Fire damages historic apartment building in downtown Minneapolis

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Residents were evacuated from an apartment building in downtown Minneapolis Sunday afternoon due to a three-alarm fire.

Smoke and flames were already coming out of the three-story building at 215 9th Street S. when crews arrived on the scene, according to Minneapolis Fire Department spokesperson Bryan Tyner.

Crews initially tried to fight the fire from inside the building. But, when the roof began to weaken, they switched to a defensive firefighting strategy and fought the fire from outside the building using master streams.

All the residents of the building were evacuated. No one was injured in the fire.

The American Red Cross is assisting the residents. Officials estimate there are two dozen people from the 19-unit apartment building that will need aid. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.