Massive Fire Decimates Historic Downtown Apartment Building

The blaze caused extensive damage to a 100-year-old building with deep ties to the local Finnish community.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:43pm

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A massive fire has caused significant damage to a historic apartment building in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The 3-story multi-unit building, originally constructed in 1915 as a boarding house and steam bath for Finnish immigrants, was engulfed in flames on Friday afternoon. Firefighters worked for hours to contain the blaze, but the roof has collapsed and the building has been decimated. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, but no injuries have been reported.

Why it matters

The building at 336 Albert St. W. held deep historical significance for the local Finnish community, serving as a landing spot for immigrants at the turn of the 20th century. Its destruction represents a significant loss of cultural heritage for the city. The fire also comes just a year after another historic building, the Steam Baths, was damaged by a blaze and later demolished.

The details

The fire broke out around 4:30 pm on Friday, prompting a large response from the Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services. Eyewitness Lori Noel described the blaze as a "burning blaze" that refused to die down, with the roof eventually collapsing. The building was originally constructed in 1915 by Finnish immigrant David Mansonen and operated as a boarding house and steam bath. It later transitioned to an apartment building after being owned by Mansonen's brother-in-law Charles Victor Raiva and then Raiva's wife Alina.

  • The fire broke out around 4:30 pm on Friday, March 14, 2026.
  • The historic building was constructed in 1915.

The players

Lori Noel

A local resident who witnessed the massive fire engulf the apartment building.

Hanna Ellis

An employee at the Sault Ste. Marie Museum who is familiar with the building's history as a landing spot for Finnish immigrants in the early 20th century.

David Mansonen

A Finnish immigrant who constructed the building in 1915 and operated it as a boarding house and steam bath.

Charles Victor Raiva

Mansonen's brother-in-law, who took over the boarding house after Mansonen.

Alina Raiva

The wife of Charles Victor Raiva, who ran the boarding house after her husband's death in 1939.

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What they’re saying

“The roof has caved in, everything's up in flames. It was a burning blaze, but the fire alarms were still going off. It was wild.”

— Lori Noel

“It's very sad to see another older building like that with so much rich history and such a deep connection to that community go.”

— Hanna Ellis, Sault Ste. Marie Museum employee

What’s next

Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services are investigating the cause of the blaze, which remains unknown at this time. The city is also assessing the extent of the damage and determining how many residents have been displaced by the fire.

The takeaway

The devastating fire at 336 Albert St. W. has destroyed a building that held immense historical and cultural significance for Sault Ste. Marie's Finnish community. Its loss represents a tragic blow to the city's architectural and immigrant heritage, coming just a year after another historic structure was also ravaged by flames.