St. Paul Apartment Fire Causes Roof Collapse and Evacuations

Twenty residents of a St. Paul apartment building face displacement after a Monday morning fire caused the structure’s roof to collapse near St. Catherine University.

The fire broke out at the Randolph Terrace Apartments, located on the 1800 block of Randolph Avenue near the intersection of Fairview Avenue South, MPR News reported. The three-story brick building, which also includes a garden level, houses 20 apartment units.

Firefighters conducted an initial search of all floors and successfully evacuated the building before the roof gave way, according to FOX 9. The sudden collapse forced crews to shift to defensive operations to manage the remaining flames and ensure the safety of those on the scene.

Roof collapses at a 20-unit St. Paul apartment building fire on Randolph Avenue

The intensity of the blaze sent thick plumes of smoke into the air, visible across the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood. As the situation escalated, emergency responders expanded their perimeter.

While the primary focus remained on the 20-unit building, WCCO reported that crews were also evacuating people from neighboring buildings. St. Paul police arrived to assist with traffic control as the area around Randolph and Fairview avenues became a staging ground for heavy equipment and ladder trucks.

RAW VIDEO: Aerial footage shows St. Paul apartment fire, collapsed roof

The scale of the firefighting effort has left significant secondary damage to the surrounding area. WCCO officials noted there has been “large water damage” in the vicinity resulting from the massive volume of water used to combat the fire.

The St. Paul Fire Department utilized aerial ladder trucks to reach the roofline as the fire spread. Because of the structural instability caused by the roof collapse, the city’s Department of Safety and Inspections arrived on the scene to assess the integrity of the remaining building.

Inx randolph ave apt fire cummings — Photo: cbsnews.com

For the residents forced from their homes, the American Red Cross has been called in to provide assistance. St. Paul Regional Water was also notified to manage the impact of the large-scale water usage and the resulting damage to the local infrastructure.

As of late Monday morning, no injuries have been reported by the St. Paul Fire Department. Firefighting efforts remained active as crews worked to fully extinguish the blaze and secure the site.