Mpls. house fire near frozen hydrant ruled arson
Investigators have ruled a north Minneapolis house fire that burned near a frozen hydrant was arson.
Firefighters battled the two-alarm blaze last Wednesday night. No one was hurt.
A hydrant near the intersection was not working. Minneapolis Water Works determined the hydrant was frozen.
Other hydrants in the area worked. The fire department says it's common for more than one hydrant to be used on fire scenes.
While the frozen hydrant had been checked three times so far this winter to make sure there was no water inside, rain and snowmelt can fill the jacket surrounding the hydrant and cause it to freeze.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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