Visit the Helix Apartments Fire page for more information.

(July 30, 2026) The St. Louis Park Fire Department has completed its origin-and-cause investigation into the July 17, 2026, Helix Apartments fire. Visit the Helix Apartments Fire page to read the summary and the incident report.

(July 27, 2026) Over the weekend the Red Cross met with numerous households and individuals affected by the Helix Apartments fire at its temporary service center at St. Louis Park Middle School, with more appointments made for later for those unable to  meet this weekend. While the Red Cross has closed the temporary service center and returned its operations to their Minneapolis offices, intake workers are available to handle additional cases as they arise. Anyone in need of assistance can call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767). Residents are strongly encouraged to make an appointment and meet with the Red Cross, even if their immediate needs are being met. Connecting with the Red Cross will ensure they are kept informed of future resources that may be available.

(July 24, 2026) From 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 24-26, the American Red Cross will provide a service center at Field House 3 & 4 at St. Louis Park Middle School, 2025 Texas Ave. S., St. Louis Park for any displaced resident who needs assistance. The Red Cross has obtained a list of residents through the Helix property management and is reaching out directly to offer service center appointments. Residents are strongly encouraged to make an appointment and meet with the Red Cross, even if their immediate needs are being met. Connecting with the Red Cross will ensure they are kept informed of future resources that may be available.

(July 23, 2026) As of 7 a.m. July 23, the American Red Cross shifted from providing a shelter to providing an information center at Field House 3 & 4 at St. Louis Park Middle School, 2025 Texas Ave. S., St. Louis Park. The information center will be open through 7 p.m. July 23.

From 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 24-26, the American Red Cross will provide a service center at the same location for any displaced resident who needs assistance. The Red Cross has obtained a list of residents through the Helix property management and is reaching out directly to offer service center appointments.

Building access status 
Following the July 17 fire, the city's Building Official inspected the affected Helix Apartment buildings. The 7500 building has been posted as uninhabitable and will remain closed until restoration work is completed and all required inspections have been successfully passed. 

The 7400 and 7450 buildings have been determined to be structurally safe to access. However, residents cannot reoccupy their units until the damaged fire doors have been replaced. Property management has advised that the replacement doors have been ordered and are expected to arrive within 7–14 days. Installation of all replacement doors is anticipated to take approximately two additional weeks. Property management has also indicated that they will not permit residents to return until the buildings and individual units have been cleaned and confirmed to be free of smoke particulates. 

While the city has not restricted residents from entering the 7400 and 7450 buildings to retrieve personal belongings, access to this private property is ultimately controlled by the building owner and property management. At this time, the building owner is not allowing resident access due to safety concerns. 

Although the 7500 building has been posted as uninhabitable, the city’s Building Official has indicated a willingness to allow limited, escorted access for residents to retrieve essential belongings from units that have been determined to be safe to enter. The Building Official has offered to provide property management with a list of units that could be eligible for this limited access. Any such access, however, must be approved and coordinated by the building owner and property management.

Free legal help for renters is available through Home Line or call the tenant hotline at 612.728.5767. HOME Line provides free and low-cost legal, organizing, education, and advocacy services for tenants.   

(July 20, 2026) On July 17, 2026, at 4:47 p.m. St. Louis Park firefighters along with numerous agencies from around the metro responded to a fire at the Helix Apartments in the 7500 block of Hwy. 7. The fire investigation is ongoing.

Approximately 90 units on the west side of the complex were destroyed. The east side of the complex had light smoke damage and was turned back to the property management company July 18. Property management will be communicating with residents on the timeline for re-entering and re-occupying those units. As of July 19, control of the entire complex was returned to the property management company.

The American Red Cross opened a shelter Saturday at St. Louis Park Middle School for displaced residents. The St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) is providing supplies including clothes, food, hygiene products, baby items, and more. Make a monetary donation to STEP for food, clothes, gas gift cards and diapers. The city is grateful for the partnership of these agencies in caring for residents – and for the generous, spontaneous response of the community to gather supplies for their neighbors.  

Going forward, the city’s role will be to work with the property management company as they determine next steps for clearing the site, returning residents to habitable portions of the building, and potentially rebuilding the damaged portion of the building; and supporting resource coordination efforts made by the property owner, insurers, relief organizations, and other service providers.

The American Red Cross has established a temporary shelter for Helix Apartments residents who are unhoused because of the July 17 fire. Residents should report to Door 6 on the northwest corner of St. Louis Park Middle School, 2025 Texas Ave. S., St. Louis Park. A staff person will check you in. Shelter and meals will be provided, along with on-site social workers to help with recovery from the fire.  

The fire department is continuing to monitor the Helix Apartments in St. Louis Park for potential rekindling of the fire that occurred July 17, 2026. The cause of the fire is under investigation and has not yet been determined.

At last estimate, the fire destroyed approximately 90 units in the west side of the Helix Apartments. Units on the east side of the building had light smoke damage and have been turned back over to the apartment property management company. Property management will be communicating with residents on the timeline for re-entering and re-occupying those units.  

Property management is in contact with residents in both buildings by text and email. If you are a Helix Apartments resident and need support or assistance, be sure to respond to these communications to be directed to resources. 

Many community members have asked how to help. The St. Louis Park Emergency Program (STEP) is providing resources for displaced residents, along with other agencies. Make a monetary donation to STEP for food, clothes, gas gift cards and diapers. The city is grateful for the partnership of agencies in caring for residents and will continue to monitor those efforts in the event additional resources are needed. 

Note: In the days and weeks to come, independent fundraisers are likely to appear through various online donation platforms. Please exercise caution to be sure the request is legitimate and your money reaches the intended recipient. Here are some tips to ensure a fundraiser is legitimate. 

(July 17, 2026) As of 8:30 p.m., the fire is under control at the Helix Apartments in the 7500 block of Hwy. 7 in St. Louis Park. Crews continue extinguishing remaining hot spots and conducting overhaul to ensure the fire is completely extinguished. One person was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and two firefighters were treated on scene for heat-related injuries.  

The American Red Cross and The Salvation Army are assisting displaced residents with shelter and immediate needs. Information regarding the number of displaced residents or when residents may be able to return to the building is not yet available. Approximately 90 apartments units were affected by the fire. A damage estimate is not yet available. 

Approximately 20 mutual aid fire departments assisted in the response. Hennepin EMS and North Memorial Ambulance provided EMS support during the incident. The Hennepin County Fire Investigation Team has responded and will assist the St. Louis Park Fire Department with investigating the cause of the fire, which remains under investigation. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available. 

Background: On July 17, 2026, at 4:47 p.m. St. Louis Park firefighters responded to a report of smoke at the Helix Apartments in the 7500 block of Hwy. 7. On arrival, crews found a working fire. Initial reports indicated the fire started on a third-floor balcony but this has not been confirmed. Firefighters from multiple agencies are working to contain the fire. The Salvation Army has been requested to help with displaced residents. No injuries have been reported at this time. The cause of the fire is unknown and will be under investigation.