Person missing after Gnesen Township fire
GNESEN TOWNSHIP, Min. – A pole building was engulfed in flames in the early afternoon of January 19, 2026.
It happened in the 6700 block of Rice Lake Road.
The initial reports said one person was was unaccounted for and believed to possibly be in the structure.
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says when emergency personnel arrived on scene, the structure was fully engulfed in flames and rescue efforts were not possible. Fire personnel were able to extinguish the flames.
Crews are searching for the unaccounted person in the area of the fire and other locations.
The Minnesota State Fire Marshals Office is 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.
