Here is an update from Ben Silence, Grand Marais Fire Chief on April 12, 2023: 

“The Sydney's Fire has been deemed accidental and the scene has been released to the owner.”

Please direct all other inquiries to the Cook County Sheriff or the Fire Marshall Office.

Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen provided this recap of the April 10, 2023 fire at Sydney’s restaurant in Grand Marais.

Related: Photo Gallery and video: Fire in downtown Grand Marais at Sydney's

At 11:09 a.m. the call came that there was smoke coming from the back of the building. Grand Marais Fire, First Responders, Maple Hill Fire, and Cook County North Shore ambulance were paged at 11:10 a.m. Lutsen Fire was paged at 11:17 a.m. for mutual aid. 

At 11:20 a.m., the Grand Marais lineman was disconnecting power. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office evacuated parties from the surrounding buildings on the north and south sides of the burning structure and kept people out of the Artist Point area. 

There was fire throughout the building at 11:39 a.m. which made going strictly defensive. The MN Duty Officer was notified at 11:50 a.m.

Mop up and checking for hotspots started at 12:29 p.m. Lutsen Fire was released at 1:24 p.m. Ambulance was released at 1:51 p.m. Maple Hill Fire was released 1:47 p.m.

MN DNR Conservation Officers were assisting with scene safety. 

There were no injuries, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Minnesota Fire Marshall’s Office. This is all the information that will be distributed until the investigation has been completed.