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[ # ] Maxwell’s Fire
February 20th, 2008 under Minneapolis


Maxwell's Fire

Water is being pumped into the building through the roof and 3rd floor windows. Maxwell’s, on the first-floor corner, did not appear to be directly on fire during the time I was there, but it would certainly be filling up with thousands of gallons of freezing water, causing serious damage.

Maxwell's Fire

At zero degrees, things ice up fast. Metro Transit has a bus on the scene so fire fighters could take turns warming up.

This shot is from the 3rd St Ramp into downtown with Bobby & Steve’s car wash in the foreground:

Maxwell's Fire

More photos here.

Video:


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    Read the Comments

    [ # 4686 ] Comment from Aaron [February 20, 2008, 1:50 pm]

    Damn. This really sucks for Maxwell’s as well as the apartments above it. I hope everyone got out fine. Thanks for documenting this.

    [ # 4687 ] Comment from bob [February 20, 2008, 2:10 pm]

    also a fire on 34th & Nicollet late this morning.

    [ # 4688 ] Comment from kohler [February 20, 2008, 2:29 pm]

    Which building at 34th & Nicollet, Bob?

    [ # 4689 ] Comment from David Newberger [February 20, 2008, 2:59 pm]

    It was La Princessa Bakery I think

    [ # 4690 ] Comment from kohler [February 20, 2008, 3:30 pm]

    Kassie has a photo of the fire on Nicollet from her apartment. That looks very bad too.

    [ # 4691 ] Comment from Tony [February 20, 2008, 4:06 pm]

    Oh, so that was you I was standing next to! :D

    I thought so, but wasn’t sure. So I took the Minnesotan route and didn’t say ‘hi.’ But, um, hi!

    [ # 4692 ] Comment from kohler [February 20, 2008, 4:12 pm]

    I wasn’t there long. I didn’t bring gloves, so my fingers were my limiting factor, so no socializing. I was actually about to head downtown to check out the St Anthony pool draining when Aaron mentioned this action.

    [ # 4694 ] Comment from Tony [February 20, 2008, 4:39 pm]

    From what I saw, the St. Anthony drawdown wasn’t anything spectacular. If it’s still down tomorrow, I saw some cool pics from people who went on the north side of the river down under the bridge.. I might go. Can’t see much from the Downtown side.

    [ # 4698 ] Comment from Q Wizz [February 21, 2008, 7:05 am]

    Maxwells! That sucks, hopefully they have her up and running for Thursday nights this spring! Anyone know the cause?

    [ # 4699 ] Comment from Q Wizz [February 21, 2008, 7:09 am]

    Actually they’re talking about it on KQ right now…sounds like it started on the 2nd floor. Nobody hurt, still no word on the cause. Oh yeah, and they called Maxwells a “hamburger joint.” I prefer the wings.

    [ # 4702 ] Comment from Matt [February 21, 2008, 4:32 pm]

    Melissa and I were there on Sunday. I hope it gets rebuilt.

    [ # 4916 ] Pingback from Maxwell’s American Cafe « View from the Tundra (Minneapolis in photos) [March 20, 2008, 12:50 am]

    [...] ago (Feb 20, 2008) when it was mighty cold (anywhere between -14F and a heat stroke inducing +3F). Ed Kohler at “The Deets” has a video of the fire crews in action… It’s pretty crazy how a blazing hot fire can [...]

    [ # 4926 ] Comment from Kyle Cannon [March 20, 2008, 4:17 pm]

    By the way, read in the Downtown Journal that the damage to Maxwells was just water and smoke, and they’re optimistic about being able to rebuild the restaurant.

    [ # 6292 ] Pingback from Camacho Watcho » Maxwell’s American Grill [September 22, 2008, 10:47 am]

    [...] was shut down due to a fire that started on the third floor in a storage area (as reported by Ed here), where there were a few apartments as well. It saddened so many regulars who loved Maxwell’s [...]

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