HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-04-11 Police Chief Email ��-2v -
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From: Lindy Swanson [ Imswans @ cityofoakparkheights.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 2:16 PM
To: Thomas Melena; Kris Danielson
Subject: Bjorkman House Fire, 5887 Beach Rd.N., April 4, 2001
The State Fire Marshall Investigators have completed their on site investigation as to the cause of
this house fire. As of this time, we have not received an official written report from their office,
but have been advised preliminarily, that it is their opinion at this time that the fire started in the
basement ceiling of the south portion of the basement. It is believed that the fire may have been
started in the area of a ceiling light fixture. It has not however, been determined that this is how
the fire started for certain and it appears that that will probably not be able to be determined. I
have been advised that the insurance company had stated that they were going to have an
Electrical Engineer come on site and conduct an examination in an attempt to better solidify the
cause. We also have not yet received the official completed report from the Ramsey County
Medical Examiner's Office, but their preliminary report advises that Mrs. Diane Bjorkman's death
was caused by injuries that would be sustained by being in a fire and that the autopsy showed no
other injuries that would be inconsistant with this. Mr. Jerry Bjorkman came to my office this past
Tuesday, 04/10/01 and asked to speak with me. During our conversation Mr. Bjorkman advised
that he wished to have the damaged structure demolished as soon as possible and asked if there
was anything that I could do to expedite the matter. I advised Mr. Bjorkman that the insurance
company was not yet finished with their processing of the site, that our police dept. and fire
investigators were finished, and that as soon as the insurance company is done that he can take
steps to get the damaged structure torn down. At that time I was unaware of the need for
demolition permit and also was unaware that the area had been rezoned and that that could
create the need for Mr. Bjorkman to meet with OPH staff from our Building Dept. It is my
understanding that after todays staff meeting that someone from Community Dev. /Building shall
send Mr. Jerry Bjorkman a letter advising him of the steps he may have to take to procede with
demolition and possibly applying to rebuild. As you know, initially I had the OPH Public Works
Personnel, under direction of our Building Official, erect a perimeter barricade fence to keep
unauthorized personnel out of this damaged building. If this building is not going to be taken care
of promptly, we may want to "urge" the responsible party to secure the building better, whether
that be Mr. Bjorkman, his insurance carrier, or the city. I would think that the insurance carrier
would have a strong desire to take care of this to avoid any future liability at this site.