ST PAUL, Minn. — Investigators are looking into two separate fires that occurred at the same intersection Wednesday in St. Paul's Payne-Phalen neighborhood just hours apart.
One of the fires occurred just before 1:30 p.m. at Eastside Checkerboard Pizza on the corner of Arcade Street and Jenks Avenue East. Fire crews arrived and found heavy smoke on both the first and second floors of the restaurant, but were able to save the building. St. Paul Fire Department Deputy Chief Roy Mokosso said the restaurant wasn't open at the time of the fire due to a remodeling project.
Building owner Tyler Anderson says he put around $50,000 into the structure over the past year, sprucing up the exterior and remodeling two upstairs apartments.
"When you get the call that the building is on fire it's immediately heartbreaking," Anderson said. "We've put a lot of money and effort into this in the last year of updating the building and making it nicer for the neighborhood."
Earlier in the day, a call came in around 6:30 a.m. summoning crews to put down a fire at 52 Market & Trading, just across the street from the Checkerboard building. No injuries were reported at either fire and officials are working to determine if the two are connected.
"St. Paul Fire investigators are working with police investigators as well," said St. Paul Fire Department Deputy Chief Roy Mokosso. "They'll go through a thorough investigation process using scientific technology as well as talking with 911 callers, other businesses in the area and trying to get video so we can better determine timelines in regards to things that could help the investigation process."
Anderson says there are about 12 small businesses in the neighborhood "watching out for each other" after noticing an uptick in crime recently.
"Our hope is that the city can patrol a bit more, hire more law enforcement and help out with curbing crime in the city," he said.
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