VIDEO: Northeast Minneapolis Church Destroyed in Fire
Minneapolis firefighters battled a large blaze at a church on the northeast side of the city Monday, April 19.
Fire rigs at the scene of a church fire in northeast Minneapolis on Monday, April 19, 2021. PHOTO BY MN CRIME.
Heavy fire and smoke was seen from the roof and the steeple before crews were forced to evacuate to a defensive position due to the threat of its roof collapsing.
The fire began around 7 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic church at 2200 5th St. NE. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames and smoke coming from the structure and aerial video showed a large plume of smoke filling the sky.
A majority of the church’s roof eventually collapsed and the structure was a total loss. There were no reports of injuries. Crews had the bulk of the fire knocked down by shortly after 8:30 p.m., though they were staying on the scene late into the evening Monday, continuing to knock down hotspots and flare-ups.
Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner told MN CRIME that the fire travels much faster once it gets into the attic space, so it makes it more difficult working in older structures. Tyner said upwards of 45 firefighters responded to the scene.
Officials have not yet said what the cause of the fire may have been, and an arson investigator was requested to the scene, which is standard practice for fires that cause property damage. More information was expected by the Minneapolis Fire Department on Tuesday.