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Fire officials say they believe a fire that caused extensive damage to the exterior of the Lunds & Byerlys grocery store in downtown St. Paul early Tuesday was intentionally set.

The store is closed until further notice, as crews work to repair and clean up the damage. No one was injured.

Video posted to social media showed flames covering the awning above one of the store entrances just before 2 a.m.

 that “the fire is suspected to have been intentionally set.”

Fire Department spokesperson Roy Mokosso said earlier in the day that firefighters were also called to two dumpster fires in the area about the same time, and arson investigators are trying to determine if the fires are connected. 

Mokosso said firefighters had been returning from another call when they noticed the smoke from the fire and responded. The fire was on the southeast corner of the block that includes the Penfield, a 254-unit apartment building that adjoins the store. The fire did not reach any residences.

The flames "caused a significant amount of exterior damage," Lunds & Byerlys spokesperson Aaron Sorenson told MPR News. "We also experienced interior damage as a result of the sprinkler system being activated."

Mokosso said smoke also got into the building. 

Sorenson said that Lunds is “actively working with the St. Paul Police Department to provide video surveillance to assist with their investigation.”

Minnesota News

Disasters

NewsPartners

Tim Nelson

Author

Fire officials say they believe a fire that caused extensive damage to the exterior of the Lunds & Byerlys grocery store in downtown St. Paul early Tuesday was intentionally set.


A fire burns the facade of a grocery store

Courtesy of Corey Schreppel

The aftermath of a fire at a grocery store

Downtown St. Paul grocery store damaged in overnight fire

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