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Burnsville residents rescued from big apartment blaze

Several people in the 36-unit building in Burnsville were trapped by smoke and flames just after midnight, including a woman forced to yell for help from her balcony. Four people, including a baby, were injured.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: May 16, 2008 - 7:59 AM

Firefighters rescued several people from a burning apartment building in Burnsville early this morning that injured at least four people and left dozens of residents without a place to live.

Crews arrived at The Pines apartments around 12:45 a.m. to find flames roaring from a window on the third floor of the building at 1004 W. Burnsville Pkwy., said Jef Behnken, a spokesman for the Burnsville Police Department.

Several people in the 36-unit building were trapped in the building because of the billowing smoke, including a woman who called for help from her balcony. They all were rescued by firefighters.

Three adults were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis to be treated for smoke inhalation and other minor injuries. An infant was transported to Minneapolis Children's Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Behnken said.

Their conditions were not known this morning.

The Red Cross is providing temporary housing for the displaced residents. It was unknown exactly how many people were in the building at the time of the fire or how many people lived in the building.

Residents will have to find temporary housing elsewhere as the building sustained heavy smoke and water damage, Behnken said.

The building did not have a sprinkler system.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.