Carlton Apartment Building Destroyed: Two Women Arrested
December 13, 2007 — Firefighters from eleven departments from Carlton and St. Louis counties battled an apartment building fire in downtown Carlton. The fire at 221 Chestnut Street was reported around 3:10 a.m. and left 13 people homeless. The blaze reportedly began as a grease fire on a stove in an upstairs apartment. The Thorman Apartment Building, which is attached to the Third Base Bar, was listed as a total loss. The bar sustained major smoke and water damage, which could be as much as $100,000. Two women, one of whom lived in the building, were arrested. 49 year old Lois Smith is charged with negligent fire, a felony. The Carlton County Attorney's Office was still determining if charges would be filed against the other woman. There were no injuries. Information courtesy of WDIO-TV, Duluth News Tribune and the Pine Journal.