Sheriff's Office • 100 North Fifth Avenue West • Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: (218) 726-2340 • www.stlouiscountymn.gov
Gordon Ramsay
Sheriff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 19, 2026
Media Contact: Sgt. Berndt
(218) 780-3246
Structure Fire in Gnesen Township
At 1300 hours, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office received a report of a structure fire in the 6700 block of Rice Lake Road in Gnesen Township. It was reported that a pole building was on fire and was fully engulfed in flames. One party was unaccounted for and believed to possibly be in the structure.
As emergency personnel arrived on scene, the structure was confirmed to by full engulfed in flames and rescue efforts were not possible due to the extreme fire conditions of the structure. Fire personnel were able to extinguish the flames and at the time of this press release, an active search for the unaccounted-for person is ongoing. Personnel are tracking all possible known locations that the person may be located.
The Minnesota State Fire Marshals Office is currently on scene assisting in the investigation with St. Louis County Sheriff's Office investigators along with fire personnel and St. Louis County Rescue Squad who is on scene providing support services.
The following fire departments responded to the fire call: Gnesen, Fredenberg, Rice Lake, Lakewood, Canosia, Normanna, Hermantown, Clifton and MN Air National Guard Fire Departments. The Mayo Clinic Ambulance and the St. Louis County Rescue Squad also responded to the scene.
The scene is still active, and traffic has been diverted in the area. If driving through the area, please drive slowly, use caution and follow the directions of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad who is directing traffic so the personnel on scene can work safely.
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