“Person Of Interest” Arrested In Duluth Fire

DULUTH  (AP) -- Duluth police have arrested a "person of interest" in a fire that gutted the Peerless Collision Center.

Crews were called early Monday to the two-story building in Duluth's Lincoln Park.

Duluth Assistant Fire Chief Erik Simonson expects the building will be a total loss.

Simonson believes no one was in the building, but crews have not yet completed a thorough search.

Peerless owner Rob Rabold estimates about 30 vehicles were in the building when the fire started. The shop employs six people, including Rabold.

More than two-dozen firefighters fought the blaze in cold weather. Some firefighters fell in the icy conditions but there were no serious injuries.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)