Large Fire At Fort Snelling; Dramatic Flames Visible To Passing Cars

FORT SNELLING, MN — Firefighters battled a blaze Thursday at Fort Snelling, with two suffering minor injuries.

Crews responded to the fort about 3 p.m. and found heavy fire coming from the third floor of a three-story historical brick building in the 6200 block of Taylor Avenue, according to a news release from the Minneapolis Fire Department.

The building was under construction and unoccupied, the news release said, and heavy winds were driving the flames. FOX 9 reported that the structure was in the fort’s abandoned Upper Post and is in the process of being converted to housing for veterans and low-income families.

Crews set up an aerial water tower to extinguish the flames, the news release said. Two firefighters were treated for minor hand burns from melting tar that blew off the roof, according to the news release.

Dramatic photos and videos taken by passing vehicles and news teams alike circulated on social media Thursday afternoon. The cause of the fire will be investigated, the news release said.

Fort Snelling is Minnesota’s first National Historic Landmark and is located on Dakota homeland.