Grand Forks Apartment Fire Kills One, Displaces Five

A fire in a Grand Forks, North Dakota, apartment building on Saturday evening killed one person and forced five other residents from their homes, according to the Grand Forks Fire Department. Officials have not released the cause.

What happened

The emergency call came in shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, according to the Grand Forks Herald, which described the building at 620 Conklin Ave. as a two-level apartment building on the city's north side. Valley News Live reported that crews were dispatched at about 6:08 p.m.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke and flames coming from one apartment. They went in, put out the fire and kept it confined to that unit. Crews removed one occupant from the apartment, and emergency medical staff treated that person, but the person was pronounced dead. The fire department had not named the person at the time of the reports, and we are not naming them either.

Response and aid

Five other residents of the building were displaced, and the Red Cross is assisting them, according to the department's news release. No firefighters or other occupants were injured. The fire department reported committing 18 firefighters and officers with a mix of engines and a ladder truck. Police, ambulance crews from Altru Health System, the utility Xcel Energy and the Red Cross also helped at the scene. The reports did not say how many units the building contains or how long the displaced residents would be kept out.

Cause

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Without an official finding, it would be premature to say how it started.

What this means for renters

The fire department closed its release with a reminder to test smoke detectors monthly. For renters, that advice comes with a few practical points:

• Test the alarms in your unit using the test button, and do it on a regular schedule rather than waiting for a chirp.
• Report a missing or failing alarm to your landlord in writing and keep a copy. Rules about who must supply and maintain alarms differ by state and city, so check your local requirements or ask a tenant-rights organization.
• Know two ways out of your apartment and of the building, and agree on a meeting spot with everyone in your household. Our fire safety guides cover escape plans in more detail.
• Get renters insurance. The landlord's policy generally covers the building, not your belongings or the cost of a hotel while you are displaced.

Residents displaced by a fire can contact the Red Cross for immediate help with shelter and basic needs. In the days after, keep records of what you spent and every conversation with the landlord and insurer, since those can matter for reimbursement and for questions about rent on a unit you cannot use.

Why fatal apartment fires matter to tenants

Fires that stay inside one unit can still be deadly, and they can disrupt everyone in the building through smoke, water used to put out the fire, and utility shutoffs. Neighbors in a multi-unit building depend on each other's alarms working and on a landlord who keeps common areas, exits and equipment in order. If you rent, it is reasonable to ask when the smoke alarms were last checked, whether the hallways and stairwells are kept clear, and where the building's exits are.

This story will be updated if officials release the cause or additional details.