Firefighters put out warehouse blaze in northeast Minneapolis

Minneapolis firefighters fought down a large warehouse blaze Friday evening in northeast Minneapolis.

Firefighters were called to the 400 block of NE. 35th Avenue about 5 p.m. Friday, according to Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker. Extra firefighters and equipment were called to the scene after initial first responders arrived.

All employees and firefighters made it out of the building safely, Rucker said.

The warehouse, which covers a full square block, is a single-story building with a three-story structure in the center. Inside were scrap metal, sheet metal and used appliances, some of which were ablaze.

As firefighters worked, utilities and power lines feeding the building were shut down, and power was shut off to structures in the blocks surrounding the area.

An Xcel Energy worker who was helping turn off power was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, Rucker said.

By 7:30 p.m., firefighters had the blaze contained and were extinguishing hot spots in the center building.

The building had no sprinkler system, Rucker said.

There was no early word on the cause of the fire. An investigation will continue.

ALEX CHHITH