Fargo firefighters responded to a balcony fire at 6:41 p.m. this evening in an apartment building at 1521 27th Ave. South. When firefighters arrived, they found fire on the balconies of the second and third floors. The fire had already extended through the balcony doors on each of the two floors into the apartments and into the attic space of the building on the northwest corner. Due to the combination of dry, breezy weather and the fire’s size, a second alarm was called immediately.
The first crew on scene pulled a hose line to the northwest corner and knocked down the fire on the outside, some of the fire in the two apartments, and slowed the fire that was burning in the attic. Subsequent crews arrived and were assigned interior tasks to search for any occupants who had not escaped and to extinguish the remaining fire inside the two apartments and the attic space.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Damage is estimated to be $450,000. There was significant fire damage in one apartment, moderate damage in a second apartment, and smoke damage in several other apartments. At this time, it appears that the tenants in at least four apartments will be displaced. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.
The Fargo Fire Department responded with 20 personnel on five engines, one truck, and two command vehicles. The Fargo Police Department, FM Ambulance, Salvation Army, and Red Cross also assisted.