Press releases

Edina resident’s death indirect result of apartment fire

Edina, Minn., Aug. 5, 2008 -- A mobility scooter inside an apartment building on the 5000 block of Summit Avenue in Edina caught fire over the weekend, resulting in heavy smoke damage and indirectly causing the death of one of the complex’s residents.

Edina, St Louis Park and Hopkins fire departments responded to a report of the mobility scooter on fire in the apartment building just before 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2. Within five minutes of being dispatched, the Edina Fire Department arrived at the scene, where they were met by thick, black smoke engulfing the hallways of the apartment complex. When fire crews reached the source of the fire, they found that the blaze had been put out with a fire extinguisher by the apartment’s resident, who had been awakened by his unit’s smoke alarm and evacuated the apartment upon extinguishing the flames. He was transported by Allina Hospital paramedics to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.

Another resident of the apartment complex, a 96-year-old woman not involved in the fire, suffered a heart attack while attempting to evacuate with other residents from her 3rd floor apartment. Four Edina paramedics and two St. Louis Park firefighters worked to revive the victim on the scene and en route to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

“The circumstances surrounding this fatality are unfortunate,” said Edina Fire Marshal Tom Jenson. “The residents of the apartment complex did the right thing by evacuating the building; it is just one of those very unfortunate, uncontrollable incidents. “

As with all fire related fatalities, the State Fire Marshal Division investigated the scene. Insurance investigators and engineers are still examining the scooter to determine the origin and cause of the fire. The burning plastic from the scooter resulted in the thick, black smoke.

Fire crews used fans to remove smoke from the building. The unit where the fire originated did not have any structural damage, but did suffer significant smoke damage. It will be unlivable until it is thoroughly cleaned and repaired.

“Even though we did have a fatality associated with this fire, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers greatly helped minimize the potential impact of this dangerous fire,” said Jenson.

For more information, visit www.CityofEdina.com/Fire or call the Edina Fire Department at 952-826-0339.