EAGAN, Minn. — Investigators are trying to find the cause of an early morning fire at an Eagan apartment complex that chased residents into the cold early Wednesday morning.
The 911 call came in around 2:30 a.m., and fire crews responded to a 16-unit apartment building on the 1200 block of Ironwood Lane, according to Eagan Police Sergeant Eric Tessmer. He said it might have started as a deck fire in a unit on the top floor, but officials are investigating to confirm the source.
There were no injuries or deaths, officials confirmed, and the fire was out around 4 a.m.
Minnesota Valley Transit Authority had a bus at the scene as residents were evacuated so they didn't have to stand in the cold, officials said. Displaced residents will not be able to return to their units until the structural integrity of the building is evaluated. Some have been allowed back into the building to gather belongings to get through the day.
Eagan's fire chief told KARE 11's Samie Solina that of the building's 16 units, six were "severely impacted" but all units had to be evacuated and residents will be displaced through the night.
One impacted unit belongs to a pair of college students and National Guardsmen named James and David Blood. Family members started a GoFundMe for them, saying the two have no renters insurance and that their beds, furniture, clothing, and everything else in their apartment are unsalvageable.
"This is my bedroom," said James, as he stood in his unit underneath a hole in the ceiling that burned up. "I lost a lot of very important things to me."
James and his brother had bibles, and other sentimental belongings damaged.
"My brother was lying right there," said David. "Seconds later something bad could have happened.
Jackie Goettl said she is blessed to still have her two boys with her.
"I'm so thankful they're safe," she said. "It was so relieving to hear their voices."
Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, South Metro Fire and Apple Valley departments assisted in extinguishing the fire.
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