Father, children may be among victims of Minn. fire

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MINNEAPOLIS Andrew Gervais and his three children were trying toget settled, moving from place to place, but planned to stay justone night with his sisters boyfriend who lived above an Irish pub inMinneapolis, friends said. Now, all are feared dead after the citysdeadliest fire in two decades. The two-story building was black andgutted Saturday, a day after authorities pulled five bodies from theruins: two men and three children who friends and relatives fearedwere Gervais, his children and Ryan Richner, a well-liked bartenderat McMahons Irish Pub. They said Gervais mother also was stayingwith Richner, and authorities on Saturday identified Ann Gervais,43, as one of the fires six victims. She died on the way to thehospital. Authorities have not released the other victimsidentities. Fire investigators still dont know what ignited theblaze early Friday that destroyed the building, which housed sixapartments on the second floor and the bar on the first. It was thedeadliest blaze the city has seen since 1986, said AssistantMinneapolis Fire Chief Cherie Penn. Richners stepfather, BradSchmidt, said he and his wife were waiting for confirmation of hisdeath but were already thinking about a funeral. Ryan was the typeof person who, if somebody needed something, he would help them out,Schmidt said from his home in Long Prairie, about 100 milesnorthwest of Minneapolis. He would say, No problem, stay at myplace. And if you need someone to talk to, Im here for that too. Amemorial of flowers, stuffed animals, toy cars and balloons grewSaturday behind the burned remains of the bar, where Richner beganworking full-time after leaving Brown College, Schmidt said. Healways looked forward to karaoke night, said his mother, DeniseSchmidt.