A fire destroyed half-a-dozen tents at a homeless encampment in St. Paul early Wednesday morning.
The St. Paul Fire Department said the fire was reported at 6:45 a.m., with six tents engulfed in flames at the unsheltered encampment behind the Mission-Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary.
Firefighters responded to the encampment, which is roughly one acre in size and houses around 50 people, and was able to contain and extinguish the fire quickly.
According to Deputy Chief Jamie Smith, all of the tent occupants were able to escape safely and no injuries were reported.
The fire did not extend past the encampments, and railroad tracks nearby were unaffected.
Smith told Bring Me The News that the fire department encourages people in tents to use safe heating mechanisms and ensure they are safe from combustible materials.
“The problem is the construction material in those tents are extremely flammable,” Smith said. “Saint Paul outreach staff and community partners are on-site daily to speak with residents and provide outreach.”