Man killed in south Minneapolis fire was homeowner

The man who died after a south Minneapolis house fire was the homeowner, authorities confirmed Friday.

Karl Vanden Branden, 60, was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died early Tuesday, the Hennepin County medical examiner's officer said. He was the city's second fire fatality of the year.

Vanden Branden died "of complications of thermal injuries and smoke inhalation," the office said. The death was still under investigation by Minneapolis police and fire officials, as well as the State Fire Marshal's Office, it added.

Firefighters arrived at the blaze in a two-story home at 2427 Pleasant Av. S. just before 11 p.m. on Monday. The fire appeared to have started on the first floor before spreading to the rest of the house.

That blaze was one of two that Minneapolis firefighters battled that night. A North Side house fire left a family of three without a home and sent a firefighter to the hospital.

STAFF REPORTS