Van fire injures two children in north metro

Updated 5:21 p.m. | Posted 12:27 p.m.

Two young girls, ages 6 and 9, were seriously injured in a vehicle fire in Fridley Tuesday morning.

Fridley Police Lieutenant Jim Mork said the children were left in a mini van that caught fire in a Walmart parking lot while their mother shopped.

"There was a mini van on the driver's side of the initial vehicle that had caught fire that was also catching on fire,” Mork said. “And we learned that there were two children inside. So the two children were assisted and rescued to get out of that vehicle."

After interviewing the owner of the initial vehicle that caught fire, the Anoka County sheriff’s office arrested and jailed the 70-year-old man on negligent fire charges.

Mork said the girls suffered smoke inhalation and burns over large portions of their bodies and both were transported to the hospital.