MINNEAPOLIS, MN (MNN-CBS-3) – A four-alarm fire early morning Wednesday forced all guests to be evacuated from the Drake Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Fire Department crews responded to the fire at 3 a.m.
The three-story building is located at 416 10th Street South.
The fire was upgraded to a four-alarm fire due to the amount of fire and manpower needed to search the structure and help with evacuations.
Three people were transported to the Hennepin County Medical Center with unspecified injuries.
Over 200 residents were displaced in the fire. The building served as temporary housing for the homeless.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Carrie Carlson-Guest with the American Red Cross says they’re already helping more than 100 and people and anticipate “that number will go up, and right now we’re providing safe, warm shelter for those people that were affected.”
Carlson Guest says the Red Cross is making the people impacted have food and health services available, and they’re helping people replace their medications, medical equipment. And she says there are mental health volunteers helping during this “incredibly difficult” time.
Anyone who wants to help in the relief effort can do so here, by calling1-800-RED-CROSS or by texting RED CROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
(from CBS-3, KARE and MInnesota News Network)
