Report: Sprinklers Could Have Saved Lives In Minneapolis Fire

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Authorities say fire sprinklers could have saved five people who died in the 2019 high-rise fire that happened in Minneapolis the day before Thanksgiving.

That was one of the key findings from a report released Tuesday by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division.

"This tragic loss of life could have been prevented. The victims would still be alive had there been sprinklers throughout that entire building," State Fire Marshal Jim Smith said in a news release.

"We owe it to the victims and their families to learn from this fire so we can prevent similar tragedies."

Residents and firefighters responding to 630 Cedar Avenue South found themselves in dangerous fire conditions on the morning of Nov. 27, 2019, according to the report. The building had some safety features, but there were not "redundant features" to protect the residents once a single safety element failed, officials said.

On top of recommending all high-rise buildings in Minnesota have fire sprinkler systems throughout, state fire officials are urging residential building owners to end the practice of propping fire doors open or placing objects in the path of the door that prevent it from closing in a fire.

Other recommendations include encouraging fire separations for existing "scissor stairs" to form independent stair enclosures to provide at least two distinct paths of escape.