JNS Exclusive: Video Footage of Collapsing Wall at E & L Food Mart Fire

Blog Post by Nomi Passenger, Video from youtube

The headline says it all.  A passerby catches the collapse on cell phone video. 

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Breaking News: E & L Food Mart Burning - Will Be Demolished by Day's End

Photos and blog post by Nomi Passenger

Some time this morning the hood store known as E & L Food Mart started burning. Located on the corner of Emerson and Lowry Avenues North, the store is known for loitering, open air drug dealing and just general thugginess. 

The photos above show the devastation of the fire, the effort by the MFD to put the flames out from above and a handful of Kamish Demolition workers waiting to do their thing.  They estimate they'll have it knocked down by this evening and were just waiting on the gas utilities to be disconnected. 

The entire intersection area of Lowry and Emerson is blocked off and is a flurry of activity of firefighters, demolition workers, Center Point Energy workers and City of Minneapolis and Inspection department workers. Oh, and Police officers.

No info yet on what started the fire or if there is any suspicious circumstances, but other media outlets are reporting on some firefighters who barely escaped before a collapse. 

God Bless the MFD and thank God that firefighter is okay.

And thank God this crappy hood store is gone, gone gone. It's a good day in Nomi.

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A Northside Tribute To The Minneapolis Fire Department...

Photo by John Hoff or Megan Goodmundson, blog post by John Hoff

From the other side of the world, Megan Goodmundson drew my attention to this photo taken the night of a house fire at 2031 Queen Ave. N.

Recently, Megan was flipping through her computer and came across this photo. Neither of us realized what an eerie, compelling image we had captured of the dedication of these Minneapolis Fire Department personnel. (To get a bigger view of the image, click on the image)

Due to the fact we repeatedly swapped Megan's camera back and forth that night, neither of us can be sure who took the picture.

In Minneapolis, firemen not only fight fires but board buildings, perform some of the multi-unit housing inspections, water newly-planted trees, act as medical first responders and, above and beyond all that, the Northside fire station on Lowry and Morgan has a "green roof."

Megan tells me if any of the firefighters in the photo would like an actual glossy copy of this photo, she can take care of that...she just needs their names and contact info.

We know folks at City Hall read this blog so hint hint.

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