Two officers injured, man dead in early morning Virginia fire

A man died and two police officers were injured in an early morning fire at an apartment on the 100 block of 1st Street North in Virginia.

According to the Virginia Police Department, one officer is hospitalized with “severe burns to multiple parts of his body.” Another officer was taken to the hospital, treated for smoke inhalation, and released.

The fire was reported at 4:55 a.m. Thursday. The man who died was reportedly making suicidal threats and threatening to burn down the building. Officers who responded found the apartment on fire and say they could not persuade him to leave.

Flames were contained to a garage apartment in the alley area, according to the Northland FireWire.

The Virginia, Eveleth, Fayal, Gilbert and Mountain Iron fire departments responded. Eveleth EMS and St. Louis County sheriff’s deputies were also there.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and State Fire Marshal’s office are handling the investigation.