Minneapolis Fire investigating the city’s first fire-related fatality of the year

The Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD) is investigating the city's first fire-related fatality of the year.

Just before midnight on Wednesday, March 11, Minneapolis firefighters responded to the report of a single-family home fire at 4409 32 nd Ave. S.

Fire crews laid lines and entered the home, where they found that flames had spread to the second floor. Heavy debris inside the home made it difficult for firefighters to locate the stairs to the second floor, but crews eventually made it upstairs to extinguish the fire.

During the primary searches of all floors, firefighters found an unconscious adult male in the basement of the home. Firefighters quickly removed the man from the house and brought him to the EMS personnel on the scene. He was transported to the hospital with a life-threatening injury, where he later died.

"We are deeply saddened by the overnight fire-related death," said Assistant Chief Wes Van Vickle, Minneapolis Fire Department. "After learning that there may have been someone inside the home, our firefighters quickly initiated a search, finding the victim in the basement. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries. The loss of life affects all of us and we extend our deepest condolences to the man's loved ones."

Secondary searches confirmed that the man was the only person in the home. There were no additional reports of injuries.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The MFD report number for this incident is 26-0011968.