A fire call went out to the Lutsen Fire Department at 2:22 p.m. on Sunday, January 23. A cabin at Solbakken Resort was on fire. Firefighters used water and foam to extinguish the blaze. The fire severely damaged the walls and roof of the lakeside cabin. Lutsen firefighters removed burned material from the cabin.
An emergency page went out to the Lutsen Fire Department at 2:22 p.m. on Sunday, January 23. Guests at Solbakken Resort had returned from cross-country skiing to cabin 4 to find a fire. They called 911 and the Lutsen Fire Department responded to find one wall of the Lake Superior cabin ablaze.
The fire department doused the fire with water and foam from its tanker truck. They were able to quickly extinguish the fire, thanks in part to the quick response of the Solbakken maintenance crew. Lutsen Fire Chief Paul Goettl said the Solbakken maintenance workers had used two fire extinguishers on the fire before the fire department arrived.
The fire department removed some burned furniture and put the fire out, leaving the scene at 3:13 p.m. However, they were called back at 7:06 p.m. when the fire reignited. Goettl said the fire was apparently smoldering in the attic and when the wind picked up in the evening, it fueled the flames. The fire department was again able to knock the fire out. It was contained to within the structure. “It didn’t burn through the exterior walls or roof,” said Goettl.
The fire department cleared the scene for the second time at 9:06 p.m.
Solbakken Resort is owned by Michael and Maureen O’Phelan. Michael O’Phelan said the insurance adjuster visited on January 25 and a routine investigation is underway. However, O’Phelan said it appears that the cabin is 90% burned.
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