Victims identified in Saturday’s fatal apartment fire

The names of the two people killed in the apartment fire over the weekend have been released.

Authorities say 52-year-old Michelle Kathleen Olson and her son, 24-year-old Patrick Arthur Olson perished in Saturday’s fire.

Just before 6:00am, fire crews were called to 631 E Third Street, a two-story, eight-unit apartment building in the Hillside neighborhood of Duluth.

Responding in just over two minutes, firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and a fire burning. Multiple occupants were rescued from the building, some using ladders from the outside of the building.

During rescue efforts, a resident on the second floor was removed from the building through a window and given life-saving measures. They transported to the hospital but were later pronounced dead. During a second rescue effort in the same apartment unit, multiple firefighters were forced to exit out of a window to escape the room as it flashed over. The occupant they were attempting to rescue was later found deceased.

The building sustained significant damage, and much of the roof collapsed. Damage to the structure is still being assessed. Future demolition of the building may be needed, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Authorities say this is the third fatal fire in this building; once in August of 2020, and again in April 2021.