MIDWAY TOWNSHIP – A man was found dead at the scene of a house fire at 5321 Old Highway 61 on August 18.
Due to the intensity of the fire, authorities are still waiting to positively identify the person killed in the blaze. A news release from the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office said the victim was found in the living room of the home and is believed to be the homeowner, Michael O'Neil, 61. The victim's identity has yet to be definitively determined by the medical examiner's office based on dental records.
The Proctor Fire Department arrived at 11:35 p.m. on August 18 and requested mutual aid from the Hermantown, Solway and Esko fire departments, as well as assistance from Air National Guard firefighters. They battled the fire for two hours.
The residential property is considered a total loss.
“According to the State Fire Marshal, this does not appear to be a suspicious fire at this time,” the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.
The Sheriff's Office and the State Fire Marshal's Office continue to investigate the fire.
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