2 Minneapolis townhouses destroyed in fire

Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune

Minneapolis firefighters work to extinguish a blaze that damaged or destroyed five connected townhouses in the 5000 block of S Sheridan Ave. Monday afternoon

Three other units in the complex were damaged, but there were no injuries. Firefighters rescued two cats.

By LORA PABST, Star Tribune

Last update: March 31, 2009 - 12:01 AM

Lia Peterson was on her way home from lunch Monday afternoon when her mother, Joanne, frantically called to tell her the southwest Minneapolis town house complex she lives in was on fire.

Joanne Peterson had been in her car listening to the radio when she heard a news report about the fire and immediately recognized the location in the 5000 block of Sheridan Avenue S. as her daughter's home.

Two town houses were destroyed and at least three others were damaged in the fire, which broke out around noon.

"I was hoping she was wrong," Lia Peterson said. "I have animals, and they were my main concern."

Once Peterson got home, she rushed up to alert a firefighter about her two 4-year-old cats, Ellie and Jake. She waited patiently while a group of firefighters went in to look for her pets, returning only with Ellie, who had been hiding under Peterson's bed.

The firefighters told Peterson they couldn't find Jake, but after heading back into the town house they found him in another bedroom, sheetrock clinging to his damp fur. Neither cat appeared to be injured, but Peterson is boarding them with their vet for now.

Witnesses said the fire started in one of the wood-frame town houses and quickly spread to adjoining units.

"With this new lightweight construction, fire can spread very fast," said Assistant Fire Chief John Fruetel.

Crews from Minneapolis and Richfield battled the blaze, which was brought under control within an hour, Fruetel said.

It's not clear if anybody was inside the units when the fire broke out, but no one was hurt, Fruetel said. It's also unknown what sparked the fire, which is under investigation.

Peterson and another resident were allowed to go back into their houses to retrieve personal belongings. "It's very wet and dirty," she said. "My spare bedroom looks like the ceiling caved in."

After seeing her home in its current state, Peterson said she's trying to figure out where she will live.

"I just want somebody to tell me what to do," she said. "I'm homeless."

Staff writers Bob von Sternberg and Tim Harlow contributed to this report. Lora Pabst • 612-673-4628

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