1 dead, 2 injured in Woodbury senior complex fire

Updated: 4:55 p.m. | Posted: 6:33 a.m.

One man died, two residents were injured and a firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out at a senior living complex in Woodbury early Friday morning.

Firefighters responded to reports of a fire shortly after 4 a.m. at Woodbury Senior Living on the 7000 block of Lake Road.

Woodbury police identified the deceased victim as Russell W. Johnson, 77.

The 71 residents were evacuated from the facility onto waiting Metro Transit buses as firefighters from departments around the area worked to contain the fire.

Woodbury Public Safety spokesperson Michelle Okada said the fire originated in one unit on the lower level of the facility, although the cause wasn't yet clear. She said Johnson was in that unit. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner is investigating the cause of death.

Two residents were also transported to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries related to smoke inhalation, Okada said. A firefighter was also treated for smoke inhalation.

The fire had been contained by 6 a.m. and all but nine residents were allowed to return to their homes.

Residents who were displaced by the fire will be relocated elsewhere in the campus, according to a statement issued by a spokesperson for the Woodbury Senior Living Center.

"We're heartbroken by the death of one of our tenants and we offer our sympathy and full support to his loved ones," according to the center's statement. "We will do everything in our power to assist the investigators in determining the cause of this accident."

Firefighters from Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Maplewood, Lower St. Croix Valley and Lake Elmo assisted the Woodbury Fire Department during the incident.