EP Center JCPenney closed after fire, water damage

A small transformer fire on Wednesday evening has led to the temporary closure of the JCPenney store at Eden Prairie Center.

Eden Prairie Fire Chief Scott Gerber reported that the fire occurred outside the building at about 7 p.m. and was extinguished with the help of Xcel Energy. The store was open at the time, but no injuries were reported.

After extinguishing the fire, Gerber noted that an inspection inside JCPenney revealed water leakage. Initially, it was unclear whether the water came from a domestic water line or the sprinkler system, which did not activate during the incident.

“(It) turns out it was likely a domestic (water) line,” he said. “There is some water damage, and some other structural damage inside of JCPenney.”

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The mall’s website currently displays a notice at the top stating that JCPenney is “temporarily closed due to unforeseen circumstances” and thanks customers for their patience “while we restore the operation.” Mall management has referred media inquiries to the fire department.

Gerber said he did not know how long the store would be closed. On Thursday, fire investigators and JCPenney staff assessed the situation to determine the next steps.

He noted that there is likely some water damage to the merchandise inside as well.

“I don’t know if anything’s been determined, though, as far as how long or what that might look like,” Gerber said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with no significant external damage reported.

Gerber emphasized the critical role of Xcel Energy in safely managing electrical fires, noting the importance of de-energizing the area before firefighting can proceed safely.