MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Prosecutors have charged a Minneapolis man with carelessly disposing of embers from a hookah and accidentally causing the fire that destroyed a historic pavilion on a city lake.
Twenty-three-year-old Nouh Elmi is charged by summons with negligent fires, a felony.
According to the complaint, Elmi dumped hot coals from the hookah - a water-cooled tobacco pipe - behind garbage cans at the building on Bde Maka Ska (buh-DAY’ muh-KAHS’ kah), also known as Lake Calhoun.
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The May 16 fire destroyed the pavilion’s Lola on the Lake restaurant concession. The building was later razed.
Elmi remains free ahead of a July 10 court appearance. The Star Tribune says it left messages with Elmi seeking comment Wednesday.
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