January 2, 2014 -- Updated 1322 GMT (2122 HKT)
(CNN) -- An explosion and fire at a three-story
apartment building in Minneapolis Wednesday left at least 14 people
hospitalized, six critically, fire officials said. Three residents were
believed to be missing and could still be inside.
Building explosion, fire in Minneapolis
Fire officials responded Wednesday to a reported blast and fire at a three-story apartment building in Minneapolis, Minnesota. FULL STORY
At least 14 injured in blast, fire in Minneapolis apartment building
January 1, 2014 -- Updated 2338 GMT (0738 HKT)
Over a dozen injured in apartment blast
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Not everyone is accounted for, the fire chief says
- 9 of the 10 units would have been occupied at the time, he says
- Of 14 hospitalized, 6 are in critical condition, officials say
- Freezing weather poses challenges and dangers for firefighters
Freezing weather
conspired with heavy flames to hamper efforts to rescue victims and
fight the fire, Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel said.
Some horrified residents
may have fallen or jumped from the burning building, which also housed a
grocery store that served as a gathering place for the area's growing
Somali community.
"This is a community
that's been through a lot," outgoing Mayor R.T. Rybak said. "People who
come to live in this part of our city often have gone through horrendous
things. They come here for peace and for safety."
An explosion was reported about 8:15 a.m., and the building was soon engulfed in flames, officials said.
At the time, the
temperature at Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, about five miles from fire,
was minus 4 degrees F, with a wind chill of minus 18 degrees F,
authorities said. Earlier Wednesday morning, wind chills were as low as
minus 24 F.
The streets were slick
and icy -- flooded and frozen over at the same time. Bright flames two
stories high shot up from a frozen gray landscape. Water gushed from
windows, forming icicles on the frames. The building and surrounding
trees were coated with layers of ice.
"Firefighters in
Minneapolis are used to tough weather in the winter," Fruetel said. "Ice
and water don't mix well. Certainly we are concerned about the
condition of firefighters and are monitoring that. Frostbite can happen
very quickly, so we are rotating in personnel as needed."
Most of the injuries
were from burns and the "trauma of people that came out through the
windows," said Robert Ball, a spokesman for Hennepin County Emergency
Medical Services. Officials don't know whether people jumped out, fell
or were pushed out by the explosion.
One image from CNN affiliate WCCO showed a badly burned man being lifted out of a window.
Abdi Warsame, a city
council member-elect, called on members of the Somali community to come
together to aid the wounded and displaced.
"I want the East African
community to take leadership and take ownership of this issue,
specifically with regards to helping the victims," he said.
Farah Ahmed, a relative of the owner of the grocery store, said the small business was a popular gathering place.
"It was a gathering center," he said. "We started from scratch and we will make it again."
A mosque next door to the building appeared to escape damage.
In a statement, Governor
Mark Dayton said: "On behalf of all Minnesotans, I extend my deepest
sympathies to the victims of today's awful fire in Minneapolis and to
their families and friends. We hope and pray for your swift and complete
recoveries. I also want to thank the State Troopers, Minneapolis Police
Officers, Firefighters, and other First Responders, who endangered
themselves to save the lives of those engulfed by this terrible
tragedy."
The three-story building was destroyed, with the roof and the second and third floors collapsing, Fruetel said.
Building explosion, fire in Minneapolis
The first floor
contained a store; above it were 10 residential units, nine of which
"would have been occupied at the time," he said.
Authorities did not know immediately how many people live in those units.
The blaze raged for
hours. At first, firefighters tried to enter the building but had to
retreat because of the heat, officials said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
"This is a Minneapolis tragedy," Rybak said. "This is a Minnesota tragedy. We would like everyone who can help to help."
CNN's Fredricka Whitfield, Kara Devlin, Chuck Johnston, Josh Levs and Carma Hassan contributed to this report.
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