Same Minneapolis building goes up in flames twice in six hours

Eric Silverman, Special to the Star Tribune

Firefighters fight a building fire on 34th & Nicollet that housed several businesses including Jojo's Urban Clothing

Minneapolis fire officials are investigating two fires that happened at the same building just a few hours apart.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: February 20, 2008 - 1:38 PM

Minneapolis fire officials are investigating two fires that happened at the same building just a few hours apart.

The first blaze broke out around 3:30 a.m. at a building housing Jo Jo Urban Clothing and the La Princesa Bakery. The brick building at 3345 Nicollet Av. S. also housed a vacant food market. The fire appeared to have started behind the market, said Sean McKenna, spokesman for the Minneapolis Fire Department.

About 6 hours later, fire fighters were back on the scene, McKenna said. A fire had started in the basement of the bakery. The building is heavily damaged and may be a total loss.

McKenna said the first fire did not rekindle, but he was not sure what sparked the second fire.

"It's a mystery," he said.