Just after midnight Feb. 6, 2024, Lutsen Resort on the North Shore of Lake Superior caught fire. The ensuing blaze obliterated the historic lodge.
In the aftermath of the devastation, the embattled owner, Bryce Campbell, has been the focus of intense scrutiny in the media and online forums. Campbell is also the centerpiece of multiple investigations led by state agencies, insurance companies, and private firms into his business dealings and his whereabouts the night of the fire.
Joe Friedrichs and Julie Censullo have announced a new investigative journalism podcast based here on Minnesota’s North Shore. The podcast is a deep dive into the fire that burned Lutsen Resort to the ground and the people who were most affected by the tragedy.
Friedrichs is an independent North Shore-based journalist. He is deeply invested in this story, having first reported on the fire at Lutsen Resort for Minnesota Public Radio on the morning of the fire, with ash literally falling on his winter boots while doing a live radio update. Friedrichs has lived near Grand Marais for more than 12 years. His work has appeared in the Star Tribune, MPR, WTIP radio, among many other local and regional media outlets, including the Northshore Journal.
Censullo is a radio and podcast editor based in Minneapolis. She produces audio stories — from dramas to documentaries and everything in between. She writes, “I love stories about unique characters, complicated choices, and things that aren’t always what they seem.” Her work has been featured on BBC Radio 4, Minnesota Public Radio, KFAI 90.3 FM, and at festivals and listening events worldwide. She currently produces the Moth StorySLAM for the Twin Cities.
The Lutsen Resort fire had a profound impact on the North Shore community and economy. Lutsen Resort was more than just a Lake Superior lodge. It was a cherished part of Minnesota’s North Shore, a place where countless people celebrated life’s milestones and embraced the North Shore culture. The loss of Lutsen Resort in this devastating blaze is a shared tragedy that reverberates far and wide, and its effects extend beyond the fire.
Friedrichs said, “We have been following this story for the last year and have over 26 hours of interviews with Campbell, former resort employees, fire investigators, community members, journalists, and others who were involved with or impacted by the fire.” He went on to say the podcast series on the fire will cover what happened leading up to it, what happened the night the resort burned down, and what has happened (and is still happening) since.
The journalists are reaching out to the community for vital financial support to bring this project to life. Your contribution will help them share this important story with the world. www.kickstarter.com/projects/lutsenfirepodcast/the-fire-a-lutsen-podcast
A series of episodes about the Lutsen Resort fire will be released starting this fall and into the winter months.
