The cause of the fire that destroyed the Camp Nenookaasi homeless encampment in south Minneapolis late last month is “undetermined,” according to a news release issued by the city Wednesday.
The fire burned down camp residents’ personal belongings, yurts, and supplies such as propane tanks and firewood. The fire also damaged siding on two nearby buildings. The city said there were dozens of illegal open fires and propane cooking devices discovered in the debris.
“Due to the overwhelming amount of possible ignition sources in the area of origin and that there was still a large amount of propane containers that would need to be mitigated it was not possible to positively identify the one ignition source or the first fuel ignited,” said the press release.
The fire was called in at 12:07 p.m. on Feb. 29, and took 30 minutes to extinguish. Two people were treated at the scene for non-critical injuries, one for minor burns and another for smoke inhalation.
“The fire was wind driven from the south,” said the city’s news release. “The fire extended from a single yurt type shelter located at the south center of the encampment lot and quickly moved throughout the entire camp.”
The site, located at S. 11th Avenue and E. 28th Street, that was destroyed was Camp Nenookaasi’s fourth location. The city evicted the camp from other lots three times between January and early February.
A fire also broke out a few days earlier on February 26, damaging a portable toilet just outside the camp. No one was hurt, and the cause of that fire is also unknown.
Camp organizer Christin Crabtree has said that the only open fires at the camp sites, including at the time of the Feb. 29 fire, was a ceremonial prayer fire, which was tended to all day. The yurts that kept camp residents warm were heated with metal barrel stoves, she added.
Since the fires, the city hasn’t provided any resources or communication on safe ways to keep residents warm, Crabtree said at a news conference earlier this month.
“We’ve asked the city for this kind of help and we have been rejected,” she said at the time, adding that the city of Minneapolis denied the camp’s request for electrical access to keep residents warm.
A city spokesperson previously said that Camp Nenookaasi sites are “not equipped to receive electric service, nor would that address the safety and fire hazards.” In addition, city fire inspectors previously visited two of the camp’s sites to inform them of fire code violations.
Camp organizers, volunteers and residents set up a new camp a few blocks away at 2839 14th Ave. S. The camp has occupied sites in the city’s East Phillips and Phillips neighborhoods, and has a large Native population.
The investigation into the fire will remain open because the cause is undetermined. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or through their website, CrimestoppersMN.org. All tips are kept anonymous.
