ALEXANDRIA, Minn. — Alexandria's main drag is shut down as more than 120 firefighters battle a fire that has gutted a number of downtown businesses Tuesday.
Crews were dispatched around 4:30 a.m. to the corner of 5th and Broadway on reports of a fire that is believed to have started in or near Raaper's Eatery and Ale.
Video sent to KARE 11 by Steve Bakkum shows flames jumping into the sky from Raapers, and a city spokesperson reports that buildings housing RM Tattoo, Charlie's Bazaar and Little Darlings are a total loss. So is an apartment building where at least 13 people lived.
"These are older buildings," Alexandria Police Captain Scott Kent told the Alexandria Echo Press, adding that there are many places for the fire and smoke to hide because of false ceilings and voids.
"It's a sad day for the city of Alexandria," lamented Sara Stadtherr, city communications coordinator. Stadtherr says the buildings that burned are historic, some dating back to the 1860s. She confirmed that four buildings have been destroyed, but says fire crews are confident that a brick firewall that stands between additional buildings will stop the destruction.
Stadtherr also shared that Alexandria is hosting a huge hockey tournament this weekend, and says the city will do its best to make sure everything is open and operational.
Douglas County Emergency Management spokesperson Julie Anderson says the Red Cross is providing food and shelter to residents of apartments located above the burning businesses. She says at this time there is no reason to believe anyone failed to escape the burning buildings, but describes the situation as "active."
Officials shut down seven blocks of Highway 29, known as Broadway in the city's downtown shopping and business area, while firefighters work. Helping crews from Alexandria are departments from Osakis, Long Prairie, Forada and Garfield.
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