ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA — A major apartment building fire in St. Paul’s Macalester-Groveland neighborhood caused the roof of a 20-unit residential building to collapse Monday morning, November 9, 2026, forcing residents from their homes and prompting evacuations of neighboring properties. Firefighters battled heavy flames and thick smoke as the fire spread through the Randolph Terrace Apartments along Randolph Avenue near Fairview Avenue, just east of St. Catherine University. According to the St. Paul Fire Department, emergency crews responded to the apartment complex and encountered a significant fire that required an extensive firefighting operation. Firefighters conducted an initial search of all floors and evacuated the building as conditions continued to deteriorate. Everyone inside the apartment building was evacuated before the roof collapsed, according to CBS Minnesota. As flames spread through the structure, firefighters were forced to transition to defensive operations, meaning crews withdrew from the interior and concentrated on extinguishing the fire from outside the building. Aerial ladder trucks were positioned around the property, allowing firefighters to direct large volumes of water onto the burning structure from above. By approximately 10:30 a.m., fire officials confirmed that the roof had collapsed. Photographs and video from the scene showed thick smoke rising above the neighborhood as firefighters continued spraying water into the upper portions of the damaged building. The collapse complicated firefighting efforts and raised concerns about the structural stability of the remaining portions of the property. The fire also prompted precautionary evacuations of neighboring residential buildings as emergency crews worked to prevent the flames from spreading to surrounding properties. Police assisted with traffic control and restricted access to the immediate area while firefighters continued their operations. The Randolph Terrace Apartments property contains 20 residential units across three stories and a garden level, according to city records cited by MPR News. The fire displaced residents throughout the building, although authorities had not confirmed the total number of people affected. The American Red Cross was called to assist those forced from their homes. In addition to the extensive fire damage, officials reported significant water damage resulting from the firefighting operation. The amount of water required to combat the flames added to concerns about the condition of individual apartments and the building’s remaining structural components. Representatives from the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections responded to evaluate the damaged property and determine whether the remaining structure presented additional safety hazards. The assessment is expected to help determine what areas, if any, may eventually be safe for residents or property owners to access. Despite the severity of the fire and the roof collapse, the St. Paul Fire Department reported no injuries as of approximately 11 a.m. Monday. The confirmation that residents had been evacuated before the collapse was particularly significant given the extensive damage sustained by the building. Authorities have not released information identifying where the fire originated, what may have caused it, or whether investigators have determined the extent of the structural damage. No official financial damage estimate has been announced, and it remains unclear whether any portion of the apartment building can be repaired. The incident remains under investigation as fire officials work to determine the cause and origin of the blaze. City inspectors are continuing to assess the property, while displaced residents await additional information about housing assistance, access to personal belongings, and the future of the building. Sources: St. Paul Fire Department, KSTP 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, CBS Minnesota, MPR News, and Bring Me The News. Reporting from November 9, 2026.