According to the State Fire Marshal Division report released this week, the fire that destroyed one home and significantly damaged another on Fireweed Lane in Grand Marais was accidental. It is believed that the cause of the fire was staining rags left on the deck.
Fire departments were called to the scene of the fire at 223 Fireweed Lane at 5:17 p.m. on June 12, 2013. When fire crews arrived they found the structure fully engulfed in flame with the house next door at 225 Fireweed Lane beginning to catch fire as well. A third house at 221 Fireweed Lane was also in danger as spot fires sprang up around the inferno.
Six Cook County fire departments and a U.S. Forest Service fire crew responded and battled the blaze for about five hours. The home at 223 Firewood Lane, belonging to Ron and Roxann Thorud of Savage, Minn., was completely destroyed. The home at 225 Fireweed Land, belonging to Timothy and Marie Russell of Campbell, Calif., was significantly damaged by fire and the water used to extinguish the fire.
No one was at home at either residence at the time of the fire. The fire started in a structure that was being updated and repaired by a local carpenter, Bryan Carpenter. Carpenter was staining the deck earlier in the day.
In his report ruling the fire accidental, Deputy State Fire Marshal – Investigator James Iammatteo wrote: “The cause of this fire is undetermined in nature due to heavy damages, however the staining rags cannot be ruled out as a possibility. No storms were in the vicinity of the scene, so lightning can be ruled out. Based on witness statements, the scene examination and information available to investigators at this time, all other reasonable accidental causes were eliminated.”
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