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Nov 9, 2007 6:37 pm US/Central
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Residents Can't Return Home After Apt. Explosion
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
Residents of a downtown Minneapolis apartment can't
go home because of an early morning electrical explosion.
It happened about 3:45
a.m. at the Maryland House complex on the south edge of the downtown
area.
None of the residents was
hurt, but two firefighters investigating an electrical problem were knocked off
their feet and suffered concussions.
They were treated and
released from Hennepin County Medical Center.
"I opened my door and
I could see smoking in my hallway," said Sharon Johnson, one of the
residents.
The resident were evacuated first into Metro Transit buses to
keep warm, then to Wesley United Methodist Church two blocks away.
There are more than 100
people living in the building. Many of the residents have special medical needs
and have no where else to go.
"I think it's the toughest
thing knowing you can't go back into your home ... that's discouraging," said
Suzy Schoenburg, another resident. "I'm pretty tired and my cat's worn out."
The Red Cross shuttled
tired residents back to their homes to pick up 3 days worth of personal items
and medications. They will sleep on cots tonight at Christ Church
Lutheran.
"To
me it's just a bump in the road," said Bill Willis about being
displaced. "I've handled worse things."
The building also houses the King and I restaurant.
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