Multiple Boats Catch Fire On Mississippi River in Inver Grove Heights
IVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA - Around 11:57 AM on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, several calls came into the Dakota County Dispatch for a reported houseboat fire on the Mississippi River at the River Grove Harbor Inc., located off 102nd Street East and Inver Grove Trail in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. Initial scanner traffic said a few explosions might have occurred before the flames were seen.
Photos provided by the Laumeyers Family
While en route to the fire call, Inver Grove Heights Fire units reported seeing smoke, and the call was upgraded to a confirmed working structure fire at 12:03 PM. The upgrade to a confirmed working structure fire brought mutual aid from the Eagan, Rosemount, and Mendota Heights Fire Departments. Initial units on the scene reported a narrow, steep, and icy road that made it difficult to get resources to the source of the fire. Additionally, according to a press release from the Inver Grove Heights Fire Department, a lack of fire hydrants near the source of the fire meant that several tankers were used to shuttle water to the fire scene to fight the fire. Inver Grove Heights Public Works was also called to help salt and sand with the icy conditions.
In the press release, it was reported several boats caught fire, but the number and estimated cost of damage was not readily available. Since trucks would need to be bringing in water, a request was made to Union Pacific to close the tracks temporarily along 102nd Street East. According to scanner traffic, the fire was marked out around 2:56 PM, with the scene marked clear around 3:04 PM. The train tracks were reopened around 3:30 PM. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
We have contacted the Inver Grove Heights Fire Department for more information on the possible cause of the fire and will post updates as soon as they are available.
Photo credit: Inver Grove Heights Fire Department/Facebook
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