Minneapolis crews are battling a fire at a vacant apartment building early Thursday morning.
The fire started just before midnight at the corner of Fifth Avenue South and 19th Street, just south of downtown. Firefighters say flames were burning from the top floor of the boarded-up building. Crews tried to put out the fire from inside, but they had to get out when the top floor started to collapse.
As of 5:45 a.m., crews are still battling the blaze. Minneapolis Deputy Fire Chief Staffan Swanson believes squatters likely sparked the fire. Officials said several boards that were supposed to cover first-floor windows had been tampered with or removed.
"When we got here, and got the doors open, a lot of squatters came pouring out, about 15 to 20," explained Swanson.