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30 displaced by apartment building fire in St. Paul, possibly ignited by fireworks

The $2 million in estimated damage is to the building’s structure and its contents.

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An apartment building fire in the 1300 block of St. Paul Avenue on Saturday, July 8, 2023, displaced about 30 residents and caused an estimated $2 million in damage to the building and contents.
Courtesy / St. Paul Fire Department via St. Paul Pioneer Press

ST. PAUL -- An apartment building fire in St. Paul’s Highland Park displaced about 30 residents and caused an estimated $2 million in damage, the fire department said Sunday.

No injuries were reported in the Saturday afternoon fire. Investigators found fireworks debris in the area where the fire started and residents reported hearing fireworks just before seeing flames in the grass, according to Deputy Fire Chief Roy Mokosso. Police are assisting with the investigation.

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Firefighters responded to a report of a grass fire on the lawn of the building in the 1300 block of St. Paul Avenue about 4:20 p.m. Saturday. Wind gusts of 22 mph and dry conditions contributed to the fire spreading rapidly from trees against the apartment building to attic space above third-floor apartments, Mokosso said.

With the building evacuated, firefighters extinguished the blaze with “extensive” efforts, Mokosso said. More than 60 fire department personnel responded and were on scene for over four hours.

Some residents from the 17 units were able to return to their units to retrieve some belongings, but the building isn’t habitable and the Minnesota Red Cross is assisting with temporary shelter and other needs.

The $2 million in estimated damage is to the building’s structure and its contents.

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