The Bemidji Fire Department responded to two suspicious fires at one of the Ridgeway Court apartment buildings.
The first fire was reported Thursday around 7:30 p.m. Firefighters had to remove the plywood from the windows to attack the fire from the outside, then moved inside the structure, with mutual aid requested from the Park Rapids and Solway Fire Departments.
The second fire was reported the same night at 11 p.m.
The structure at the vacated 2830 Ridgeway Ave. NW and its contents suffered severe damage, but no injuries were reported.
Forty firefighters responded to the first fire, while 20 responded to the second.
The Bemidji Police Department, Bemidji Ambulance Service, and Ottertail Power Company also assisted at the scene.
The White Earth Band of Ojibwe recently acquired the buildings with plans to renovate them and turn them into supportive sober living communities.
Featured photo courtesy of Ward 2 Council Member Josh Peterson.
