1975 — Dec 28, Breezy Point Inn fire, Island Lake, near Duluth, MN — 6

— 6 Fergus Falls Journal, MN. “Six killed in fire at Duluth.” 12-29-1975, p. 2, col. 1.
— 6 Lima News, OH. “Six claimed in resort fire.” 12-29-1975, B9.

Narrative Information

Associated Press: “Duluth, Minn. (AP) — Six persons were killed early Sunday when fire erupted at a small resort hotel north of Duluth. They apparently died of smoke inhalation before flames swept through the budding, officials said. The victims included three children of the resort’s owners and three members of another family.

“Mr. and Mrs. David Eckman, the resort owners, were out snowmobiling when the fire occurred. Both parents were treated for shock at a Duluth hospital after they discovered the tragedy.

“The Eckmans had operated the Breezy Point inn on Island Lake, five miles north of Duluth, for about one year.

“The chief of the Gnesen Township volunteer firemen, Joe Tarnowski, said that when he arrived at the scene the 50-by-60 foot building was entirely in flames, and the walls and roof had collapsed. The Inn was built mostly of logs, with a wood frame addition.

“Authorities said the fire apparently started in a bar area, at the opposite end of the building from where the six victims were sleeping. ‘The last place to go was the sleeping quarters. They were dead before the fire hit them,’ said Capt. William Evans of the sheriff’s office.

“It may not be possible to determine the cause of the fire, said a deputy state fire marshal, Arnold Johnson of Moose Lake.

“The St. Louis County Sheriff’s office said the dead were Robert Frankfourth, 39, his wife Karen, 32…their daughter Brenda, 12, all of rural Duluth, and Kim Eckman, 13, a sister Tammy, 9, and brother David, 5.” (Lima News, OH. “Six claimed in resort fire.” 12-29-1975, B9)

Sources

Fergus Falls Journal, MN. “Six killed in fire at Duluth.” 12-29-1975, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 12-2-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-journal-dec-29-1975-p-2/

Lima News, OH. “Six claimed in resort fire.” 12-29-1975, B9. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=16200278