Overview
- A large fire broke out at the Helix Apartments on Friday, July 17, heavily damaging the west side and destroying about 90 units, displacing as many as 167 residents.
- Community members and volunteers have led ongoing searches for animals, using drones to spot at least two cats and live traps and food to coax pets out of the sealed building.
- More than half a dozen animals have been recovered so far, but portions of the complex remain unsafe to enter and some owners still seek confirmation or closure about missing pets.
- The city returned control of the property to the owner and management on July 19, who are coordinating recovery and pet-retrieval efforts while fire investigators continue to probe the origin of the blaze.
- Relief groups including the American Red Cross and the St. Louis Park Emergency Program are running shelters and supply stations, and officials advise displaced renters to contact insurers and use verified local donation channels.