Paula Porter for the Gazette This house in Laurium's Florida location, seen Tuesday, was the scene of a deadly fire that occurred over the Memorial Day Weekend, one of three Houghton County fires in the past three days.

CALUMET TOWNSHIP – Early Saturday morning, deputies from the Houghton Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to Wolverine Street in Laurium’s Florida Location for a structure fire, according to a release from the Sheriff’s Office. The building contained two apartments with one on the first floor and another on the second floor.

According to the press release, when deputies arrived, two of the residents were located outside of the house and it was determined that one resident was still inside the upstairs apartment. The rear exterior entrance/exit of that was used to access the second floor was fully engulfed in flames.

A deputy and a Laurium Village police officer entered the lower residence in an attempt to locate the resident, but were unable to access the second floor from inside the first floor. The officer and the deputy had to vacate the residence shortly after due to heavy smoke.

Once the fire was contained, 15-year-old Xavier Sever was located deceased in the second floor aparetment.

Paula Porter, who writes for the Daily Mining Gazette, said she spoke with the family briefly Tuesday morning. She said one person reported severe burns on his legs and hands from trying to save the boy.

Assisting at the Florida Location scene were the Calumet Township Fire Department, Laurium Police Department, Michigan State Police, Michigan State Police Fire Marshall, Mercy Ambulance and the Houghton County Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A gofundme account has been established for the Sever family at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-xaviers-family-after-tragic-loss

Deputies were dispatched to a second structure fire, this time in Tapiola. According to a Tuesday release, deputies responded to what was reported as a domestic altercation. According to a press release, it was reported that Alex Paavola, 39, had been at the home of his parents and threatened to burn their house down. The parents fled the house to a nearby residence and called for help.

Upon arrival, Houghton County deputies found the house fully engulfed in flames. Deputies established a perimeter and began a search for Alex Paavola. Once the fire was extinguished, a body was located inside the home and was identified as Alex Paavola. Deputies were assisted in the search by two Michigan State Police K9s, Michigan State Police drone team, Houghton City Police and Hancock Police.

Assisting at the fire scene were Otter Lake Fire Dept., Chassell Township Fire and Rescue, Hurontown Fire and Rescue, Houghton County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Mercy Ambulance.

On Tuesday morning, at approximately 5:45 a.m. deputies again responded to a report of a structure fire, this time in Chassell Township. Chassell Township Fire and Rescue, Hurontown Fire and Rescue, Mercy EMS and the Upper Peninsula Power Company also responded to the alarm, where residents of the home were able to escape safely. At the time of the release, 9:43 a.m., departments were still battling the blaze. The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation.