Brush Fire Near Railroad Tracks Suspected as Arson

The  responded to the following incidents during the week of Sept. 12-18:

Sept. 12 

• There were 13 responses by paramedic firefighters for Emergency Medical Service.
• A report of a power line down in the 4400 block of France Avenue was investigated. The line was not arcing and it appeared that work had begun on the problem already. The power company was contacted, stating they were aware and working on the repair.
• Firefighters responded to a reported vehicle fire and found an overheated engine, but no fire.
• A carbon monoxide alarm was checked in the 6900 block of Cornelia Drive and found to be a bad battery.

Sept. 13

• The Hopkins Fire Department requested mutual aid assistance at a townhouse fire in the 1300 block of Landmark Trail North. 
• A request for mutual aid assistance from the Bloomington Fire Department was cancelled at the scene, in the 7800 block of Washington Avenue.
• 16 EMS responses.
• A natural gas leak was investigated in the 400 block of Tyler Avenue South. The resident reporting the gas odor had already called the gas company, which was en route. 
• Smoke was reported coming from the vents in an office building in the 5600 block of Lincoln Drive. Firefighters found moderate smoke in the building and an occupant, who stated the HVAC fans had been making noise all day then produced smoke. The occupant had turned the HVAC system down and the smoke stopped. The fire department investigated finding problems with the HVAC system on the roof. The building owner was contacted and had a maintenance person responding to the scene. Firefighters ventilated the smoke from the building. 
• One false fire alarm was investigated.

Sept. 14

• A grass and brush fire was extinguished in the area of the railroad tracks in the 5400 block of West 70th Street. Dry, windy conditions, the close proximity to a wooded area and the difficulty getting fire vehicles to the fire made fighting the fire challenging. Crews from Richfield, St. Louis Park and Eden Prairie Fire Departments were requested to the scene. Edina Police were investigating, as three youths were reported running from the area.
• 11 EMS incidents.
• One false fire alarm.

Sept. 15

• Nine EMS responses.
• Firefighters responding to a recreational fire complaint and asked the resident to extinguish the fire. Improper materials were being burned and the resident had not called the Recreational Fires Hotline to find that recreational fires were not being allowed because of the dry windy conditions. 
• A report of a natural gas odor was cancelled en route.
• A fire alarm malfunction was investigated.

Sept. 16

• Eight EMS incident responses.
• A natural gas odor was investigated in an office building in the 7600 block of Edinborough Way. An employee found that the gas burners on a stove in a cafeteria space had been left on and the pilot lights were off. Firefighters arrived and monitored the air, finding no dangerous levels of natural gas.
• A smoke scare was cancelled en route.
• Three false fire alarms were reported.

Sept. 17

• Seven EMS calls.
• One false fire alarm.

Sept. 18

• The Hopkins Fire Department requested mutual aid assistance from Edina at a structure fire on St. Alban’s Road West.
• 13 EMS incidents.
• A fire alarm at a condominium complex in the 7500 block of Cahill Road was investigated. A florescent lamp had failed, causing light smoke to set off the smoke alarm.   
• Two false fire alarms were reported.