100 firefighters at Robbinsdale, Minn. apartment fire, 3 injured

ROBBINSDALE, Minn. (KMSP) - Three firefighters were injured while battling a 5-alarm apartment fire in Robbinsdale, Minn. The fire started just after 1 a.m. at the Beach South at the Lake apartments on the 4200 block of 46th Avenue N.

Multiple units were destroyed and the flames could be seen from nearby Highway 100. Fire officials said all 12 residents and a cat are safe and accounted for. American Red Cross volunteers are helping the residents displaced by the fire.

Fox 9 spoke to one young tenant who believes the fire may have ignited on her deck, where she and her boyfriend would leave their ashes in some kind of pot.

“I was just thinking I hope everyone  gets out of there okay. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if someone were to pass away because something so stupid.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but the preliminary investigation points to improper disposal of smoking materials. The injured firefighters were treated and released.

The Beach South apartments had working smoke detectors, but no sprinklers. Since it is an older building, sprinklers are not required.