Cigarette Ignites Dumpster, Flaming Car Vanishes

The  responded to the following incidents during the week of Oct. 3-9:

Oct. 3

• Firefighters extinguished a fire in a construction dumpster in the 5500 block of Schaefer Road. Careless disposal of cigarettes was the cause. 
• Paramedic firefighters responded to 12 Emergency Medical Service calls.
• One false fire alarm was reported.

Oct. 4

• Edina Fire responded to a report of a tree on fire near the intersection of West 45th Street and France Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters found Minneapolis Fire on the scene of a dumpster fire in the alley on the Minneapolis side of France Avenue. Edina firefighters assisted Minneapolis firefighters in extinguishing the fire. 
• 11 EMS responses.
• A request for mutual aid from Hopkins Fire Department was canceled en route.
• Firefighters investigated a false fire alarm.

Oct. 5

• Paramedic firefighters were first on the scene of a reported ashtray fire in a parking lot in the 6200 block of Xerxes Avenue and extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher.  
• 10 EMS incidents.
• An ambulance and an engine crew responded to a vehicle crash with injuries on Hwy. 62 at Gleason Road.
• Firefighters responded to a report of a car fire in the parking lot at , the vehicle was gone on arrival. 
• A carbon monoxide alarm was investigated; a low battery was the cause the alarm.
• A false fire alarm was investigated.

Oct. 6

• 14 EMS responses.
• Paramedic firefighters assisted at a vehicle accident with injuries on France Avenue at West 44th Street.
• St. Louis Park Fire requested mutual aid assistance, but then cancelled the engine crew en route.
• Two false fire alarms were reported.

Oct. 7

• There were 15 EMS calls.
• A vehicle crash with injuries occurred in the 6700 block of France Avenue.
• An electrical burning odor was investigated in the 5300 block of Hollywood Road. The odor was traced to the refrigerator compressor and the refrigerator was unplugged. Firefighters also discovered electrical problems in other areas of the home and at the main breaker panel. Power was shut off to the home and the home was checked for heat using thermal imaging cameras, no fire or heat signatures were found. The power company was called. 
• Firefighters responded to the 4500 block of Golf Terrace for a report of power lines sparking. Strong winds were blowing branches into the lines but were not arcing when firefighters arrived and power lines remained intact. The power company was contacted for follow up. 
• Arcing power lines were reported in the 5300 block of Benton Avenue. Firefighters found wind blowing branches and power lines, but no arcing. The power company was notified. 
• Power lines were arcing in the trees behind homes in the 4500 block of Golf Terrace from the strong winds.  The arcing stopped when a fuse tripped and power was then out to the homes in the area.  The power company was contacted.   
• An odor thought to be natural gas was reported in the 5300 block of France Avenue. Firefighters found no odor inside the building and a slight odor outside. Further investigation determined that the odor was not natural gas, instead tracing it to a sewage truck at a service station down the block. 
• Hopkins Fire Department asked for a mutual aid response for a possible apartment fire but cancelled Edina Fire en route. 
• St. Louis Park Fire requested mutual aid for a possible fire, then were able to cancel fire units en route.
• One false fire alarm was reported.

Oct. 8

• Nine EMS responses.
• Firefighters checked out three recreational fires, informing the residents that there was a burning ban in place. The fires were extinguished.
• A carbon monoxide alarm malfunction was investigated in the 5200 block of Meadow Ridge.

Oct. 9

• Nine EMS incidents.
• Residents in the 6100 block of Birchcrest Drive reported a carbon monoxide alarm that continued to sound after windows were opened. Firefighters used gas monitors and did measure low levels of carbon monoxide in the first floor of the home, but could not determine the source. The gas company was responding and residents were cautioned to remain outside until the source was found.