A multi-structure fire broke out on Monday afternoon along the North side of Wisconsin Street in downtown Grand Marais.

Fire crews from multiple departments were at the scene of the fire which broke out in early afternoon on Monday, April 13.  The block that is burning includes popular area businesses such as Sven and Ole's Pizza, Crooked Spoon, Picnic and Pine and others.  The Cook County Sheriff reported late Monday afternoon that the fire started in the back of the Crooked Spoon Cafe and it along with Picnic and Pine and White Pine were all total losses.

 Photo: Paul Sundberg

There is no known cause for the fire at this time and no injuries were reported .

WTIP reported that the City of Grand Marais had asked city residents not to use city water to assist the water needs to fight the fire at is peak.  

Authorities have asked people to avoid the fire scene and stay away as crews are still engaged.  In addition to the fire departments, Cook County law enforcement, the State Patrol, MN DNR were hand to assist with blocking downtown city streets and directed traffic away from the scene.

 Photo: Boreal Community Media

Late Monday afternoon, Sheriff Pat Eliasen issued the following incident report and statement.

Fire Downtown Grand Marais Destroys Three Businesses, No Injuries Sustained

April 13, 2020 – At 1:19 pm today, Cook County’s 911 Dispatch received a report of a fire in the back of the Crooked Spoon Café located on Wisconsin Street in downtown Grand Marais. 

Volunteer Firefighters from the City of Grand Marais, Maple Hill Fire Department, Lutsen Fire Department and Colvill Fire, were needed to battle the blaze which spread to neighboring businesses Picnic & Pine and White Pine North on Wisconsin St, fully engulfing the buildings.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office along with First Responders from Grand Marais, North Shore Health Ambulance, Cook County Search & Rescue with the Mobile Command & Rehab Trailer, Minnesota State Patrol and available Border Patrol units were also dispatched to the scene and assisted with perimeter and scene safety.

With high wind gusts the fire was difficult to contain. Grand Marias Public Utilities Commission was dispatched to cut power to the area and the City also deployed a backhoe to assist firefighters to be able to knock the fire down. The Cook County Emergency Chaplains were also dispatched the Command & Rehab staging area and are supporting emergency units and business owners on scene. The Minnesota Fire Marshal was dispatched and is in route to investigate the cause of the fire. 

Firefighters now have the fire under control and will remain on scene until the fire is completely out and they can enter mop-up mode.

“I commend the swift actions of our fire departments, the City PUC and all emergency personnel involved to contain this major fire under very difficult conditions and circumstances,” said Sheriff Pat Eliasen. “This is a devastating loss for our community and certainly the business owners. Thankfully nobody was injured during the fire.”

No further information is available at this time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and updates will be issued as they are available.

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