The Minnesota Fire Marshal’s Office said Wednesday that a historic North Shore lodge destroyed in a fire had three unresolved violations from a recent fire code inspection, but it wasn’t clear if those violations played a role in the blaze.

A staffer at Lutsen Resort’s lodge on Lake Superior spotted smoke coming from electrical outlets in the floor of the lobby around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. The employee made it out and no guests were checked in for the night, but the wood-frame lodge was quickly destroyed despite the efforts of firefighters from Lutsen and surrounding communities.

The state fire marshal performed an inspection in July and found seven violations. The agency said the property owner repaired four of them.

“It is too early in the investigation to determine if the three outstanding violations played a role in the fire,” the Fire Marshal’s Office said in a statement.

The three outstanding violations were orders to:

Provide the most recent report on annual testing of the lodge’s sprinkler system.
Provide the most recent report on the lodge’s fire alarm inspection and testing.
Repair or replace an emergency light near one of the lodge’s 32 guest rooms.

The Associated Press left a message with the resort Wednesday.

The fire marshal said it is unclear when the investigation will conclude.

Lutsen, founded by the Nelson family in 1885, claims to be Minnesota’s oldest resort, with the lodge as its centerpiece. It is a popular destination for hikers, skiers and other visitors from the Midwest and beyond.

The main lodge was rebuilt after a 1951 fire, using the same designs of prominent St. Paul architect Edwin Lundie. The current owners have pledged to rebuild again using Lundie’s original designs and modern construction materials.

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