St. Cloud Fire Marshal: Cause of Children’s Home Fire Undetermined

(KNSI) – After a nearly year-long investigation, the cause of a fire that destroyed a part of the former Catholic Charities Children’s Home is still undetermined.

According to the St. Cloud Fire Marshal’s report obtained by KNSI, the fire was reported in the early morning hours of April 7th, 2021, and had two points of origin based on physical evidence, but the building sustained too much damage to do a conventional investigation. The report didn’t elaborate on that physical evidence but did say the fire caused $1,557,000 damage, mainly in the administrative building where the roof collapsed.

Jake Judd (KNSI News)

Investigators say the building was under renovation, resulting in the two sprinkler system grids being shut off. The fire marshal’s report says the part of the sprinkler system left on stopped the fire from spreading.

Officials say the building had experienced several break-ins and vandalism in recent months, and the owners were planning to install security cameras. The report says racist and sexually explicit slurs and gang references were spray-painted on the walls throughout the main floor, and there was vandalism to the construction zones. Several fire extinguishers had also been discharged.

Investigators say a significant thunderstorm moved through the area just before the fire was reported. Two lightning strikes were investigated as a potential cause but ultimately ruled out. The St. Cloud Fire Department says it asked for assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the State Fire Marshal’s Office, but both declined because of riots in the Twin Cities. Daunte Wright was shot by officer Kim Potter on April 11th, four days after the fire.

Newport Healthcare bought the site from the Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud in fall 2020 with plans to use the facility as a residential treatments center for teenagers.

Last month, St. Cloud dedicated a plaque along the Beaver Island Trail near the site of the Children’s Home for the years of service to young people. The Children’s Home started as an orphanage in 1924.

According to the report, the case remains inactive and unsolved. There’s a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification of anyone responsible for the is fire. The reward is being offered through the arson tip line at 1-800-723-2020.

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