fire062007

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Fire damages duplex on Nicollet Avenue

A light stench filled the air and soot covered the sidewalk this morning several hours after a fire swept through a south Minneapolis duplex that had stood since 1886.

By Tim Harlow, Star Tribune

Last update: June 19, 2007 - 11:21 AM

A light stench filled the air and soot covered the sidewalk this morning several hours after a fire swept through a south Minneapolis duplex that had stood since 1886.

The blaze, reported to firefighters at 4:11 a.m., broke out in a first floor bedroom and is believed to have been started by a candle.

Neighbor Corinne Ertz said the fire spread rapidly through the 2½-story structure on the 3200 block of Nicollet Av. S. and that "flames engulfed the roof in minutes."

A portion of the roof collapsed and the south side of the house was severely damaged.

Ertz said three men who were in the duplex escaped. She said officials and the duplex's owner told her that one was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center and was treated for smoke inhalation. The other two got out unharmed, emerging with only the clothes on their backs. One of the men, an artist who lived there for 20 years, did manage to grab one of his sketch books, Ertz said.

The two-alarm fire forced authorities to shut down Nicollet Av. S. between W. 32nd and W. 38th Sts. for several hours this morning. The street reopened around 9 a.m.

Ertz said the owners had spent $40,000 last year to remodel the duplex, which was well maintained.

The house will be knocked down as officials said it was a total loss.

"It's a devastating loss to the neighborhood, to lose one of the best properties on the block."

Tim Harlow • harlow@startribune.com