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218-730-4400 •www.duluthmn.gov
Public Information Officer at 218-730-5309
SUBJECT: Tri Towers Fire Death
BY: Assistant Fire Chief Richard Mattson
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Fire Death
CASE NO.: 11000028
INCIDENT DATE: 1/1/2011
INCIDENT TIME: 2056
INCIDENT LOCATION: 222 N 2nd Ave E
Addendum to press release of 1/1/2011
The injured occupant of the Tri Towers fire has died from his injuries. He was rescued by firefighters when they first entered the apartment but his burns were extensive due to his immediate proximity to the fire. The injured resident was taken by ambulance to Essentia Medical Center Emergency Room. It was determined that his burn injuries needed care beyond the capabilities of the local burn center. He was airlifted to Region's Hospital in St. Paul for treatment. He later died from his injuries. The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of family.
The cause of the fire has been determined by the Duluth Fire Marshall's office to be ignition by smoking materials. This is the second fire started by the fire victim in this apartment. The first fire took place on April 20, 2009 from discarded smoking materials in a wastebasket.
The damage to the building was kept to a minimum by the discharge from the automatic sprinkler system in the apartment. No other injuries were caused by the fire.