Fire forces evacuation of north Fargo apartment building

apartment fire Feb. 9, 2021 — Residents of a north Fargo apartment building make their way to a Metro Area Transit bus to keep warm while alternate lodgings are found for them Tuesday night, Feb. 9. Fire crews put out a fire in the basement of the apartment building which a fire official estimated housed 10-15 people. No one was reported hurt in the fire. David Olson/The Forum

By David Olson

February 09, 2021 at 10:23 PM

FARGO — A fire forced the evacuation of a north Fargo apartment building about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday night, Feb. 9, leaving all the tenants displaced.

Fire crews arrived to find smoke coming from the building and residents standing outside on the 700 block of 10th Avenue North.

A MAT bus was brought in to provide temporary shelter for residents stuck outside in subzero temperatures.

apartment fire photo 2 Feb. 9, 2021 — No one was hurt but residents of this apartment building in the 700 block of 10th Avenue North in Fargo were evacuated Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, after a fire was reported in the basement of the building. David Olson/The Forum

Fargo Fire Marshal Ryan Erickson said no one was injured in the fire, which he said started in the basement of the apartment building. The fire was under control within 15 minutes, Battalion Chief Jason Ness said in a release.

Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from reaching the upper floors of the building.

Erickson said utilities to the building were shut off while fire crews cleared the building of smoke and made a thorough search to make sure the fire had not spread.

The American Red Cross responded to the 10-unit building, a representative told WDAY.

All tenants were displaced because of damage to the building's utilities, the release said.

The fire remains under investigation.

Firefighters respond to an apartment fire north of downtown Fargo late Tuesday, Feb. 9. Ryan Longnecker / WDAY

By David Olson

I'm a reporter and a photographer and sometimes I create videos to go with my stories.

I graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead and in my time with The Forum I have covered a number of beats, from cops and courts to business and education.

I've also written about UFOs, ghosts, dinosaur bones and the planet Pluto.

You may reach me by phone at 701-241-5555, or by email at dolson@forumcomm.com.

Fire forces evacuation of north Fargo apartment building

Ten to 15 people forced to find alternate shelter amid temps around minus 10 degrees