HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 11 - VandervorkAveFire
City of Edina 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Lauryn Grimes, Communications Assistant
Phone 952-826-0348 lgrimes@EdinaMN.gov EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fire Damages Home on Vandervork Avenue
Edina, Minn., April 11, 2016 – The Edina Fire Department was called to the 4500 block of Vandervork
Avenue at 4:47 p.m. Saturday, April 9, after multiple neighbors called in to report significant smoke coming
from a nearby home. The homeowner was not home when the fire began, but found the house full of smoke
upon arriving home from an errand.
Fire crews arrived to heavy smoke coming from the home and a large fire coming from the back of the house.
The majority of the fire was in the kitchen and adjacent rooms and extended into the garage. Fire, heat and
smoke extension was noted throughout the home.
Fire Marshal Jeff Siems says this incident reinforces the fact that fires can start even when we least expect it.
“Fires can double in size every 30 seconds and can start anytime, anywhere -- even when we’re not home and
think it’s impossible,” he said. “In this case, it was extremely helpful that multiple people called about the fire
because crews were able to arrive before the damage spread to other nearby structures.”
There were no injuries, but the entire house was affected and will likely be considered a total loss. The cause
of the fire is still under investigation. The Edina Fire Department received mutual aid from the Bloomington,
Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Richfield and St. Louis Park fire departments.
According to Siems, the incident serves as a reminder to residents to think about steps they can take to
protect themselves and their homes from potential fires. “Home fire sprinklers are a great option for
preventing and containing fires, especially if no one is home,” he said. “They have been in commercial buildings
for a long time and prove effective in containing and controlling fires until the fire crews can extinguish them.”
For more information about the Edina Fire Department, visit EdinaMN.gov/Fire or call 952-826-0330.
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