ROCHESTER, Minn. – Fire forced evacuation of the University of Minnesota-Rochester classroom building in the former Galleria retail building downtown. No one was injured. The fire was reported about 7:40 a.m. with smoke from the roof. Smoke-activated alarms had already sounded when firefighters arrived. The building was already evacuated. Automatically activated sprinklers caused water damage in the first and second floors. The whole interior was a haze.. Investigators said the fire probably originated in chimney exhausts shared by two restaurants. Firefighters said it would take several hours to locate every last hot spot. It was uncertain how long classes would be cancelled.
A general alarm. Firefighters dropped dry chemical chimney bombs from the roof. Image: Rochester Fire Department