Woman killed, woman and child injured in houseboat business fire on Rainy Lake

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. – Investigators say an 85-year-old woman is dead after a large fire broke out at a northern Minnesota business Wednesday evening.

The Koochiching County Sheriff's Office says crews were called to battle the blaze at Northernaire Houseboats on Rainy Lake in International Falls just after 5 p.m. The business rents out houseboats to vacationers.

Firefighters arrived to find the main building fully engulfed. The sheriff's office says part of the building "was an older log structure making the fire exceptionally hot and difficult to battle."

Crews found the woman's body inside. They say her 51-year-old daughter tried to save her but couldn't get in the building. The daughter is critically hurt in the hospital.

A 12-year-old girl is also in the hospital, and she is expected to survive.

Investigators are still trying to figure out how the fire started, but say it looks like it was an accident.

The resort said in a Facebook post that it will be closed for the rest of the season. 

"We thank you for the outpouring of support and prayers," the resort said. "We look forward to rebuilding our facility with your ideal vacation in mind."