Minneapolis Landlord Sued Over Deadly Fire

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A wrongful death lawsuit blames a landlord for the 2014 deaths of five children in a north Minneapolis fire.

The Star Tribune reports the lawsuit was filed Friday. The suit claims the children's deaths could have been prevented had it not been for inadequate smoke alarms, heating facilities, electrical outlets, escape points and mechanical systems in the duplex owned by Paul Bertelson and his company, Mission Inn Minnesota.

Two children and their father, Troy Lewis, survived the Valentine's Day blaze. The two surviving children along with their father are parties in the lawsuit.

The cause of the fire was never officially determined, but it appeared to have started near a space heater in the living room.

An attorney representing Bertelson declined to comment on the suit.