Firefighters Control Fire at Macy's Ridgedale

A fire ignited at the site of the Macy's expansion in Ridgedale Center on Tuesday morning.

Macy’s and Lakeshore Grill customers and workers were evacuated on the north side of the mall. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. People in the rest of the mall continued to shop.

The blaze brought fire departments from Minnetonka, St Louis Park, Plymouth, Hopkins, Chaska Maple Grove, West Metro, Wayzata, Excelsior, Bloomington and Long Lake for mutual aid. 

"When we got here, it looked like there was a fire on the exterior of the building," said Kevin Fox, deputy fire chief with the Minnetonka Fire Department. "As we investigated, we noticed that it had extended to the roof area."

Fox said at noon on Tuesday that the fire was contained to the roof area and was under control. He said the biggest problem was the cold weather. Firefighters rotated every 15 minutes because of the wind chill while working on the roof. 

The location of the fire also presented an issue. "It's very difficult to get to it," Fox said. "We've had to do a lot of cutting and lot of opening up of the building."

Fox anticipated that crews would be working on the fire into the afternoon.

The health department decided when the Lakeshore Grill and Macy's would reopen. "There was a moderate amount of smoke in the restaurant and the store," Fox said. He guessed that the businesses would reopen Tuesday afternoon, which they did.

The parking lot also got very icy from the water running onto the ground from the hoses. A city crew salted the area.

Fox said they don't anticipate that the fire will set back Macy's construction. He added that the store's merchandise was moved by crews and should be in good shape. 

One Lakeshore Grill employee watched the scene from the parking lot, after she was told to go home during the evacuation. She commented that the fire made her a little nervous but for not for several customers she saw enter the store. 

"I personally wouldn't be going in to buy something if it's on fire," she said. "But they weren't afraid." 

Those customers are apparently ready for Black Friday.