Please join me in sending up prayers for Alexander O’Neal and his wife, Cynthia.
The soul singer and his wife were hospitalized early Friday morning after a devastating fire tore through their apartment at the Willoway Apartments in Burnsville, Minnesota.
According to Burnsville fire officials, the blaze started around 1:30 a.m. in a third-floor unit.
A neighbor spotted the flames and quickly called 911.
When crews arrived, the situation intensified enough for officials to escalate to a three alarm response to bring in additional resources from surrounding communities.
Firefighters worked through the night to control the flames, evacuate residents and make the building safe.
A KARE 11 photographer captured Alexander being placed into an ambulance.
A neighbor confirmed that his wife, Cynthia, was also transported to the hospital.
What Happened Inside Their Apartment
Cynthia shared frightening details about the fire.
She said she woke up to Alexander urgently warning her, waving his arms in the air as he tried to alert her.
She noticed what she described as a bubble of fire coming from the cord to Alexander’s oxygen machine.
He had just been released from the ICU hours earlier after a nearly two week stay for a rare bacterial pneumonia and an enlarged heart, which left him extremely weak.
Cynthia said she then saw another fire on the floor.
Alexander attempted to stomp it out with his bare foot and suffered burns.
The flames quickly spread to their mattress, forcing the couple to leave immediately and call 911.
Because Alexander was still recovering, they could only take a few steps at a time while inhaling heavy smoke as they made their way down three flights of stairs before reaching safety.
Both were rushed to a nearby hospital.
Cynthia was released soon after, while Alexander remained under observation as doctors checked his lungs.
Their Home Was Completely Destroyed
After leaving the hospital briefly to retrieve Alexander’s medications, Cynthia returned to find their apartment demolished.
She described ankle high water, melted medicine bottles and belongings that had been destroyed beyond recognition.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the couple has been staying with family and trying to remain hopeful.
Cynthia told TMZ, “We are so happy to be alive. We may not have a toothbrush, but we have a car. Our spirits remain good and we are moving forward.”
Alexander was released from the hospital Friday evening.
A Look Back At Alexander O’Neal’s Musical Legacy
Before his successful solo career, Alexander O’Neal was hired by Prince in the early 1980s to be the lead singer of The Time.
Though he was ultimately replaced by Morris Day, Alexander went on to carve out his own legacy with beloved R&B hits like “Wherever You Will Go,” “Sentimental” and “Never Knew Love Like This.”
Cynthia also shared that Alexander recently lost his longtime friend and former Time drummer, Jellybean Johnson, who passed away in late November.
Alexander was unaware of his friend’s death at the time because he was on life support.
As the couple focuses on healing and rebuilding, I’m continuing to lift them up in love and prayer.
Frens, please keep Alexander and Cynthia in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time.
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