(Updated) Minneapolis Firefighters Respond to St. Louis Park Blaze

Fire crews from Saint Louis Park, Minneapolis, Hopkins, Golden Valley, Richfield and Eden Prairie responded to a fire in the late afternoon at the Nachez Place Condominiums in Saint Louis Park.

A woman in her 90s who lives in one of the condos was taken by ambulance as a precaution. A Golden Valley firefighter was also taken by ambulance as a precaution. Residents and firefighters are being monitored for smoke inhalation, as well as heat exhaustion.

Firefighters were working in short shifts to avoid heat-related injuries, with those not in the building getting routine blood-pressure checks and taking in plenty of fluids while they rested. The Red Cross and Salvation Army were on-scene to provide water and food.

About one-third of the condominium building sustained smoke damage, according to St. Louis Park spokesman Jamie Zwilling. He added that he expects a number of residents to be displaced from the building for the night.

Zwilling said Minnetonka Boulevard between Ottawa and Monterey avenues could reopen later tonight, but that stretch remains closed to motorists for the time being.

Rich Grimes, who lives in a first-floor unit at the residence, said he was inside when he heard alarms going off, then other residents yelling to evacuate.

"You could smell it," Grimes said of smoke in the hallway. "I got right out."

Grimes, who had bypass surgery several years ago, said he was thankful that the stress and heat didn't overwhelm him.

"I don't want to go through this again, coming out to 100-degree heat," Grimes said.

Sarah Wolf was also inside the building when the fire broke out. She lives on the third-floor, and said she went out to her balcony when she first heard alarms. Wolf said she could see flames coming from the unit next to her's.

She got out safely, but cursed her bad luck.

"I bought the condo a week ago," Wolf said.