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Vadnais Heights Apartment Fire Displaces 40

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May 16, 2009 11:14 pm US/Central

Vadnais Heights Apartment Fire Displaces 40

Reporting
John Lauritsen
VADNAIS HEIGHTS, Minn. (WCCO) ― About 40 people have been forced out of their homes after an apartment fire. It started around 1:30 Saturday afternoon in Vadnais Heights. Eighteen units at High Crest Apartments were affected, with three destroyed.

"It looked really bad. It started from the center of the apartment and it was kind of spread out from there," said witness James Cantwell.

When firefighters arrived at the apartment they were met by intense flames and heavy smoke. As smoke detectors went off, people evacuated. Many got out just in time.

"I watched as the side of the balcony fell over and hit the ground. It was kind of scary," said Cantwell.

"I heard some people screaming, came outside there. The second apartment here was engulfed in flames and it was going upward," said Jeannine Guenther.

Guenther made it outside safely, but then ran back inside to get her dog and warn others.

"I ran upstairs, got my dog, got some few items the place and then I knocked on my neighbors across me who was there, grabbed her and then came back outside here too, and by then the whole thing of the whole side here was just engulfed in flames," said Guenther.

Thankfully everyone made it out safely and an investigation is underway to find out what happened. Initially some witnesses thought a barbeque grill may have started the fire, but investigators say that was not the case. What is known is that the fire started on the second floor and there was no sprinkler system in this building.

Gas and power have been shut off, so the Red Cross has set up a shelter at a local YMCA to help those displaced. It could be days before they can return home.

"Several people lost everything and others are going to be out for two or three days anyway," said Mike McIlheran of the Red Cross.

The Red Cross said 19 adults and nine children stayed at the Northwest YMCA off of Lexington Avenue and Interstate 694 on Saturday night.

Firefighters said strong gusts of wind allowed the fire to spread to the third floor quickly.

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