A blaze in a Brooklyn Center apartment building proved stubborn for firefighters as it was seemingly under control at one point Sunday night only to start up again hours later.

The flames were first detected between 6 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday in a lower unit of the building at 604 69th Av., said Assistant Fire Chief Greg Jones. The fire spread to the second floor and then to the roof before "we thought we had it out," Jones said.

About six hours later, fire crews were back because the roof caught fire anew, the assistant chief said. When spot fires were knocked out, the blaze was finally put down for good.

The cause is not determined, but likely to be accidental, Jones said.

Several residents had to be evacuated, he said. The Red Cross said later in the day that it was helping 18 adults and 20 children with food and shelter needs.

Paul Walsh