Firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish a large blaze that engulfed the vacant Kmart store on Lake Street in Minneapolis. The fire, which started before dawn on Friday, burned for several hours, sending thick clouds of smoke billowing into the sky.

At approximately 5 a.m., fire crews swiftly responded to the boarded-up building. Utilizing three aerial ladders, firefighters continuously directed water onto the nearly block-long structure in an effort to contain the blaze. After approximately 5½ hours, Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker announced that the bulk of the fire had been extinguished.

Despite the progress, two aerial water towers remained on the scene to attack remaining hotspots and flare-ups within the building. Rucker cautioned that due to a partial collapse of the rear wall, there may still be pockets of fire in void spaces. Additionally, a section of the roof had collapsed. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries among civilians or firefighters.

Rucker revealed that upon arrival, fire personnel observed heavy smoke "puffing through the bricks" concentrated at the back of the building. She emphasized that the scene was still active and that fire crews may remain on-site for a few more hours.

During a media briefing, Rucker mentioned that the fire was already well underway when they arrived. Fire personnel later conducted a quick search through the areas of the building that remained intact. Luckily, no individuals were found during the initial search.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and remains under investigation.

Coincidentally, on Thursday morning prior to the fire, the city commenced the removal of a homeless encampment near the Kmart. Approximately 30 individuals were given a short amount of time to retrieve their belongings before the encampment was cleared. The city cited public health and safety risks as the reason for shutting down the encampment.

It is still unknown if the removal of the encampment is connected to the fire. The city has experienced fires in encampments in the past. Just a few weeks ago, a fire occurred in an encampment between the Minnesota Firefighters Museum and the Edison High School bleachers, resulting in a fatality.

The Kmart store, which opened on the site in 1978, has long been a point of contention for the community. In 2020, the city agreed to pay $9.1 million to buy out Kmart's lease and proceed with the planned demolition of the building. Demolition was scheduled for next spring, but the process has been expedited due to the fire. City staff began knocking down unstable walls within the structure on Friday, and hazardous material abatement will commence in the coming weeks.

The ultimate goal is to revitalize the area, with plans to reconnect Nicollet Avenue and commence construction on the roadway in 2025. Full development is not expected until 2027.

This incident has further delayed the closure of the Kmart store, which was scheduled to end its operation just weeks after the death of George Floyd and subsequent riots that damaged over 1,500 buildings, including the nearby Lake Street post office.