Likely Arson Damages Former Brooklyn Center Target Store
Investigators believe arson may be the cause of an early Monday morning fire at the former Brooklyn Center Target building.
According to the Brooklyn Center Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to the former Target at 4:10 a.m. by a smoke alarm.
An arriving firefighter saw smoke and flames on the roof of the building, which is located at 6100 Shingle Creek Pkwy.
Crews put out the fire at the former Brooklyn Center Target building. Investigators believe the cause of the fire may be arson. (Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Center Fire Department)
As more crews arrived, they upgraded the fire to a second alarm, bringing assistance from several neighboring agencies.
Since the building was unoccupied, firefighters set up a “defensive attack” and started to fight the fire from outside the building, Brooklyn Center Fire Chief Todd Berg said.
Crews aimed to protect neighboring structures in the Shingle Creek Center shopping mall while knocking down the flames, Berg said.
It took a group of 42 firefighters around seven hours to to put out the fire and clear the scene, according to Berg.
Investigators believe the fire originated inside the building. The fire then climbed up a wall and reached the roof.
Berg said there is moderate damage to the interior of the building.
The fire was “likely started by someone” and is being investigated as a possible arson, Berg said. “The cause of the fire is undetermined but it definitely started inside. The building is vacant, although it has been broken into a few times in the past.”
The Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Park, Fridley, Osseo, West-Metro, Golden Valley and Rogers fire departments assisted during the incident. North Memorial Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene.
During the incident, EMTs evaluated two firefighters for symptoms of heat exhaustion, Berg said.
Brooklyn Center Target Store Closed in 2019
Target closed its Brooklyn Center store in early 2019.
The city of Brooklyn Center purchased the vacant building the following year.
North Memorial later used the building as a COVID-19 vaccine distribution center.
In 2022, a developer brought forward a redevelopment concept for the site. In that proposal, developers suggested constructing a 100,000- to 140,000-square-foot international market in the Target building.
