Fire destroys two structures on Rollins Creek Road

Four fire departments were paged to the scene of a fire just after 6:23 p.m. this evening, August 14. The initial report said a structure at 4 County Road 34, or Rollins Creek Road, in Lutsen, was fully engulfed in flames.

As the Lutsen and Tofte Fire Department approached and saw the amount of smoke visible from the roadway, firefighters requested support from the Grand Marais and Schroeder Fire Departments.

On arrival they found a house and a bunkhouse, as well as surrounding trees on fire. Support from the U.S. Forest Service was requested to prevent the fire from spreading further into the woods.

All four fire departments were on scene by 7 p.m. and tender trucks filled water tanks, shuttling back and forth to the emergency hydrant at Lutsen Resort. By 7:10, the danger of the fire spreading to the trees was lessened and the fire fighters said the Forest Service crew would not be needed. As a precaution, two Forest Service crews responded, one from Tofte and one from Grand Marais.

The Grand Marais Fire Department was released from the scene at about 8 p.m. and the West End fire departments remained on scene to ensure that the fire does not re-ignite.

The two structures are a total loss. The co-owners of the property, Anne Bryant Wight and John Wight, informed the Cook County Sheriff’s Office that there should not have been anyone at the house.  

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The State Fire Marshal has been contacted.

WTIP will provide more information as it becomes available.