A 19-year-old woman who died in a January 15 apartment fire in Alexandria, MN has been identified by authorities. Shandin Goodbird of Alexandria was the only resident of the four-unit building located at 410 Fillmore Street who did not escape the fire. Preliminary autopsy results indicate that she died from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide toxicity.
Local @RedCross volunteers providing resources and support to those affected by the multi-unit apt. fire in Alexandria, MN. @echopress @VoiceofAlexMN @EchoPressPhotos pic.twitter.com/Rd6aiIemyy
— Red Cross Minnesota (@mnredcross) January 15, 2018
First responders were called to the scene around 5:30 a.m. on Monday. They arrived within three minutes to find the fire fully in progress. Alexandria Fire Chief Jeff Karrow told the Echo Press that there were heavy flames on the south side of the building and heavy flames and smoke on the north side.
Some of the residents had been able to escape before police and firefighters arrived, others escaped after first responders pounded on their doors to wake them up. A total of 58 firefighters from Alexandria, Garfield and Forada battled the blaze for hours in subzero temperatures. The cause of the fire has not yet been identified.
The fire began in a unit that Goodbird shared with two other people. They suffered smoke inhalation and burn injuries but escaped by climbing out the windows. They were airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul for treatment.
This is the second fatal fire in Alexandria so far this year. On January 5, two people died when a fire broke out in their home at the Viking City mobile home park. Prior to that blaze, there had not been a fatal fire in Alexandria, a city of 13,500 people located about 2 hours northwest of the Twin Cities, in 15 years.
Sources:
http://www.echopress.com/news/fires/4388112-update-fire-victims-identity-not-yet-confirme
http://www.startribune.com/alexandria-s-second-fire-in-10-days-brings-death-toll-to-3/469460113/