Just after 10:30 am. Tuesday May 18, 2004, Minnetonka Fire and Police dispatch, paged an All-Call for a townhouse explosion and fire, in the 5200 block of Silver Maple Cir. on the cities east side.
Eng.'s 1 and 3 arrived with in five minutes of the call and reported a heavily involved town-house. Chief 1 (Joe Wallin) assumed command and immediately requested Eden Prairie for stand-by at Sta. 1.
Ladder -5 and ladder-4 subsequently arrived and nosed up close to the structure. Engines 7, 4 and ladder-3 arrived. Adjacent units were searched and evacuated. Engine 1 and 3 firefighters advanced a 1 3/4 handline in the front door and a 2/12" to the rear, off E-1. A hydrant was directly across from the building.
The structure was a two story home on the north end of a 4-plex side by side. The adjacent home was separated by a firewall. Heavy fire consumed the rear of the home on both stories and into the attic. After a brief interior fight crews were withdrawn do to deteriorating conditions and a three pronged attack using two aerial mater streams and the 2/12" hand line at the rear. The master stream attack was waged for about 10 minutes, then firefighters were able to again enter and extinguish lingering hot-spots. Heavy overhaul was needed and Eden Prairie E-11 was brought to the scene, replaced in Sta. 1 by Plymouth E-11. No injuries were reported and a cause is being investigated. Damage to structure and contents was in the $300,000 range.
