Sunday Moorhead Apartment Fire Cause Identified

No one was injured

UPDATE: Smoking materials are to blame for a fire that displaced the people in four homes.

Moorhead firefighters responded to 1205 12th Avenue North around noon yesterday.

The fire was ruled accidental at the four–plex apartment building.

Neighbors say they heard an explosion after a small propane tank used with a portable grill started on fire.

The fire has caused an estimated $70,000 in damage.

No one was injured.

MOORHEAD, Minn. — People living in a four-unit, Moorhead apartment building aren’t able to return home after a fire started in the back of the building.

Neighbors say they heard what sounded like an explosion shortly after the fire started at noon. Firefighters say they aren’t sure what caused the noise but the fire then spread to the attic. The apartment where the fire started is heavily damaged. Fire crews say the other three apartments all have minor water damage. No one was hurt.

“They could have been really bad and once again, we warn everyone to make sure that you’re not discarding smoking materials and that outside. We don’t know if that was the cause of this but being an outside fire, something had to start it out there,” said Moorhead assistant fire chief Gary Larsen.

Firefighters are still investigating what caused the blaze.