By Joe Morey News Editor
The Norwood Haven residential facility, owned by the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe, located just off the Reservation boundary off County Hwy E on Grindstone Lake, burned to the ground in an overnight fire on Monday, Oct. 30.
The fire was reported just after 8:00 pm and wasn’t extinguished until around 11:30 pm. All residents were safely evacuated. The 5 cabins located at the former resort were unharmed, but the original bar/restaurant and motel units were completely destroyed.
The motel had 6 units all being occupied by residents placed there by the LCO Tribe. The TGB put those displaced residents at the Sevenwinds Casino Lodge for the time being.
The Tribe purchased the resort at the end of July with a long-range goal to convert the former resort, bar and grill into a sober living facility, but it was currently being used to address the extreme housing shortage.
According to facility manager, Jeff Crone, the property was not yet a transition facility because the Tribe was putting people there who need housing but are sober and living drug free.
Residents of the facility believed the fire may have started in the lodge area after the fireplace was being used despite warnings not to use it until the chimney had been cleaned.
Seven local fire departments responded to the scene with Town of Hayward being the first dispatched. They were assisted by City of Hayward, LCO, Stone Lake, Winter, Exeland and Bass Lake.
Photos by Anthony Price, LCO Safety Officer and volunteer firefighter