Police: NE Minneapolis lumberyard fire apparent arson

Published 9:53 am Thursday, March 12, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS  — Minneapolis authorities are looking for suspects after determining that a weekend fire at a lumberyard was apparently arson.

Surveillance video shows two people sneaking into the Shaw-Stewart Lumber complex in northeast Minneapolis shortly before the fire broke out late Saturday. One of the figures on the video appeared to enter a large building minutes before smoke began wafting from the structure.

The suspect is seen walking in and out of the building several times before running away.

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Authorities said Wednesday the security footage and other evidence point to the blaze being intentionally set. It took firefighters nearly four hours to extinguish the blaze, which likely started in a trash bin in the burned-out building.

Authorities said it’s too early for a damage estimate.