Two and possibly three small building fires overnight in Minneapolis are being investigated Thursday as potentially related cases of arson.
Fire crews were called to the three locations from about 3 a.m. to 5:35 a.m. Thursday. They found flames exclusively on the building exteriors each time and quickly doused them, said Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker. No injuries were reported.
"We are looking into possible arson because of the way they were started," said Rucker, who declined to elaborate. "Random exterior fires are kind of unusual."
The fires were at the Bull's Horn Bar in the 4500 block of S. 34th Avenue, followed by one at a fourplex in the 1700 block of N. Emerson Avenue and a third at a commercial garage in the 4500 block of S. Snelling Avenue. In each location, the buildings are on street corners.
Rucker said the two South Side fires have fire investigators most suspicious because they occurred about four blocks apart.
At the last of the three fires, a man came up to firefighters as they were preparing to leave and punched one of the crew, Rucker said.
The blow caused no injuries, and the man was arrested by police, she said.
"We're not even sure what that was all about," Rucker said. "He just came running into the group and swung."
Paul Walsh
