At least 3 Minneapolis fire victims remain critical

Firefighters work the scene where a fire engulfed several apartment units in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood, in Minneapolis, Wednesday.

MINNEAPOLIS — At least three of the 14 people injured in an explosion and fire at a Minneapolis building remain hospitalized in critical condition today, hospital officials said.

Ten victims from Wednesday’s fire at a three-story building that houses a grocery store and apartments were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center. Christine Hill, hospital spokeswoman, said via email that three remain critical, six are in satisfactory condition and one person has been released. The victims suffered burns, broken bones or both.

Fire officials said six people were critically injured and some victims were taken to Fairview University hospital. Spokeswoman Jennifer Amundson said today she could not release any information.

No fatalities have been reported, but authorities were not sure whether any residents were still inside the building. Its roof had partially collapsed, making it too dangerous for firefighters to enter. Building inspectors will assess the building’s condition and determine when it’s safe to enter.

Officials said it wasn’t immediately clear what caused the fire.

Firefighting efforts were hampered by the frigid cold. As firefighters aimed their hoses at the flames Wednesday, water gushed from windows and doorways, forming icicles on window frames and leaving the street slick and icy.

The facade of the building and trees out front were also coated with a layer of ice. Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel said no fire crew members were hurt, adding that they did a great job under “extreme conditions.”

Abdi Warsame, a Minneapolis City Councilman-elect for the area, said the victims were members of the city’s large Somali community. He called on other residents to come together to support the victims.