Apartment Building Charred, 3 Injured by Four-Alarm Fire

A three-story apartment building in southern Edina was left charred and wet after numerous fire crews put out a massive fire in the early hours of Wednesday, July 11.

"A good chunk of the building is pretty charred right now," said Jordan Gilgenbach, communications coordinator with the . 

The initial call came in at 11:22 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10, with reports of heavy smoke on the first floor of , in the 4100 block of Parklawn Avenue. The blaze eventually escalated to a four-alarm fire before crews were able to put it out, following more than an hour of grueling work.

“The fire alarms worked throughout, which allowed for a safe evacuation,” said Edina Fire Chief Marty Scheerer. “But if this building had sprinklers, it is very possible the fire could have been contained to the one unit.” 

The fire reportedly started in a first-floor apartment, causing significant damage to the two apartments above it and moderate damage to three additional apartments. Dozens of additional units sustained smoke damage during the fire. The resident of the apartment where the fire started was not home at the time, according to officials.

were joined by crews from more than 10 neighboring fire departments.

A substantial number of residents were inside the 118-unit building at the time of the fire, but Gilgenbach said everyone was successfully evacuated.

Three individuals were injured during the fire, including two residents and one firefighter. One male resident received treatment from Hennepin County EMS workers for smoke inhalation, but was released on scene. An Eden Prairie firefighter was taken to with a knee injury, while an elderly woman was also taken to the hospital for exhaustion.

Crews had extinguished the flames by 12:30 a.m., but spent several more hours going through every floor of the building to ensure there were no more hot spots left.

The fire was isolated to the west side of the building, with major smoke, water and fire damage in that portion of the structure. City officials say it's too early to place a dollar figure on the damage done by the fire or the exact cause.

Gas and electricity were cut from the building during efforts to extinguish the fire, so residents were not allowed to stay there once the flames had been eliminated. Most residents were allowed back into their units—aside from the heavily damaged ones—to gather belongings. Residents will be able to return home once utilities are reconnected, which the property manager is working on.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army were on scene to assist residents, with Metro Transit buses available for displaced tenants.

Representatives with Parklawn Estates say they anticipate residents will be able to return to their apartments within the coming day.

“We want to express our thanks and gratitude to the fire department and the American Red Cross for their quick response," said Frank French, spokesperson for the apartment complex. "Edina is an amazing community and so many people have come forward to offer their help and support. Our top priority continues to be our residents and everyone is working around the clock to make sure they are safe and well-taken care of.”

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