Brooklyn Park Firefighters Battle House Fire in Extreme Cold
Firefighters in Brooklyn Park had to battle a house fire over the weekend in dangerous cold.
Fire crews were called to a home on the 3200 block of 81st Avenue around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19. The temperature at the time was 9 degrees below zero.
When firefighters arrived, the back of the home was fully involved. Crews from seven fire departments worked for about 30 minutes to get the flames under control.
Brooklyn Park Fire Marshal Jeff. St. Martin says fighting a fire in extreme cold presents a number of challenges. Crews need to cycle in and out to stay warm.
Investigators say none of the residents sustained any injuries, but three firefighters received minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
“Some of the challenges you have, right, it’s cold,” said Brooklyn Park Fire Marshal Jeff St. Martin. “And so your hands get cold, your feet get cold, it’s tough to move hand lines around. It’s icy, so slips, trips and falls are a concern for everybody, and you’re just not as efficient as you normally are.”
A total of three people were displaced by the fire, one of whom was a minor. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but St. Martin has ruled out arson.
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