Minneapolis Police Department

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Minneapolis Fire Department has a long history of responding to major incidents that shaped the city. On Thanksgiving night November 25, 1982, fire destroyed an entire block of Downtown Minneapolis, including the 16-story headquarters of Northwestern National Bank (now Wells Fargo) and the vacant, partially demolished location formerly occupied by Donaldson's department store. While no deaths were reported, 10 Minneapolis Firefighters were taken to the hospital with injuries. This was the second largest property fire in the US in 1982 and one of the largest in Minneapolis history, with 85% of the entire department (on and off duty) responding. The cause was suspected to be two juveniles playing with an acetylene torch in the vacant department store (charges were later dropped). The fire spread due to a central open atrium, lack of fire suppression (sprinklers), and lack of fire containment, leading to significant widespread changes to building fire code. In 2007, the department responded to the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse after the central span suddenly gave way, with northern sections falling into a rail yard onto three unoccupied and stationary freight cars. During the George Floyd protests in May 2020, the MFD responded to several fires; across the metropolitan region, the FBI and ATF investigated 164 structure fires from arson that occurred May 27–30, 2020. Most affected properties were commercial businesses, but arson also damaged schools, non-profit organizations, government services, and private residences.

In Their Own Story

In 2016, the department equipped its 19 fire companies with Narcan (Naloxone) nasal spray to counteract the effects of opioid/heroin drug overdoses. Through 2019, first responders had revived 920 individuals experiencing a probable opiate overdose, all carefully logged and documented in logs written by the members of the department. The numbers in adjacent St. Paul are high as well; since 2015 that city’s paramedics have administered 2,800 Narcan doses. Both cities’ police departments also carry the nasal spray. The MFD also sponsors the Minnesota Task Force 1 (MN-TF1), an urban search and rescue team based in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro area. Along with members of the Minneapolis Fire Department, the team also has members from the Edina Fire Department, Rochester Fire Department, Dakota County Special Operations Team, and Saint Paul Fire Department.

Reader's Guide

As of May 2015, a complete list of all Minneapolis Fire Department fire station locations and the apparatus assigned to them is available. The department operates out of 19 Fire Stations, organized into 5 Battalions, each shift commanded by 5 Battalion Chiefs and 1 Deputy Chief. The MFD is home to the Minnesota Task Force One (MNTF1) USAR Unit, a regional urban search and rescue team. Notable incidents include the Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire (November 25, 1982), the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse (2007), the American Opioid Crisis response (2016–2019), and the George Floyd protests (May 2020). The department's response to the Thanksgiving Day Fire led to significant changes in building fire code. Their Narcan program revived 920 individuals through 2019. During the George Floyd protests, the FBI and ATF investigated 164 structure fires from arson across the metropolitan region.

Did You Know?

• The Minneapolis Thanksgiving Day Fire on November 25, 1982, was the second largest property fire in the US in 1982, with 85% of the entire department responding.
• Through 2019, Minneapolis Fire Department first responders revived 920 individuals experiencing a probable opiate overdose using Narcan nasal spray.
• The MFD sponsors Minnesota Task Force 1 (MN-TF1), an urban search and rescue team that includes members from Edina, Rochester, Dakota County, and Saint Paul fire departments.
• During the George Floyd protests, the FBI and ATF investigated 164 structure fires from arson that occurred May 27–30, 2020, across the metropolitan region.
• The 1982 Thanksgiving Day Fire led to significant widespread changes to building fire code due to factors like a central open atrium and lack of sprinklers.