Large New Hope Apartment Fire Leaves Dozens Without Homes
New Hope Fire Destroys Six Units, Dozens Displaced
A large fire in New Hope destroyed several apartments Sunday morning leaving dozens without their homes, fire officials said.
The fire broke out around 7:30 a.m. Sunday at the Pheasant Park Apartments on the 5600 block of Boone Avenue N. The West Metro Fire-Rescue District, the first fire department on the scene, said fire and smoke was visible on the first floor of the three-story building. The fire quickly spread to the second and third-floor balconies, officials said.
“The building was evacuated and one resident was transported to the hospital,” said West Metro Fire Chief Sarah Larson in a press release on the New Hope fire. The extent of that person’s injuries is unknown.
About 200 people lived at the building. Larson said the fire destroyed six units and damaged at least nine others. The local chapter of the American Red Cross said it’s helping as many as 100 people with emergency assistance, including food and shelter.
Fire officials say an appliance caught fire and spread quickly.
“At this time, early indications point to the fire starting accidentally,” said Larson.
‘I was terrified’
One witness said her mother lives on the side of the building where the fire happened.
“I was terrified,” she said.
The woman identified herself as the daughter of Robbinsdale School Board member Sharon Brooks Green, who it turns out was out of town and has yet to the see the damage.
“My heart goes out to my neighbors. I have really good neighbors, and I’m so sorry this happened to us,” Brooks Green told CCX News over the phone. “This is tragic for myself, but I know that I have to keep going.”
The fire went to a third alarm. A total of 11 departments responded. In addition to West Metro, the joint agency for New Hope and Crystal, the other fire departments to respond included Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Center, Rogers, St Louis Park, Osseo, Maple Grove and Minnetonka.
The Red Cross says it’s helping those who lost their homes find temporary housing.
The official cause of the fire is still under investigation.
It was a busy weekend for the West Metro fire department. On Saturday afternoon, West Metro responded to a house fire in Crystal that claimed the life of an elderly woman.
Scene of New Hope fire/credit Mike Johnson
Story updated at 3:19 p.m. Monday, April 4
Reporter Sonya Goins contributed to this story.
Also See: Nine FDs Needed to Put Out Large Plymouth House Fire
