Car Crashes into MN Building, Sparking Gas Fire

Minneapolis fire crews were on scene early Monday after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building and caused a heavy fire.

The Minneapolis Fire Department said in a release that firefighters responded just after 5 a.m. to reports of a fire at a five-story residential structure, and upon arrival crews found a vehicle that had crashed into the building and damaged an exterior gas meter.

The vehicle was burning, with the flames being fed by leaking gas from the damaged meter, but no one was inside the car.

Firefighters laid lines to knock down the fire and access the broken gas meter, but they were unable to shut off the meter due to the heavy fire. The main gas line was located inside a garage and shut down to stop the flow of gas.

Crews found no fire extension to the interior of the building, but residents were evacuated as a precaution, allowing smoke to clear and the units to be monitored for any gas. Residents took temporary shelter inside a transit bus before being allowed back inside their apartments.

There were no injuries reported.