A house fire in Duluth Township took the life of a 3-year old girl last night, despite her grandmother's desperate efforts to save her.

The blaze broke-out at 1557 West Knife River Road shortly after 10:30 Tuesday night.

52-year-old Catherine Solem was watching her three grandchildren... 6-year old Alex Johnson and 3-year old twin girls Heidi and Sarah Johnson, while their parents were in Alaska attending a wedding.
As LeAnn Wallace reports: a passerby saw flames and called 9-11.

"Pulled up, and I could see this house, the front of this house was engulfed in flames... my first thought was call 9-11, I had my phone called and my first thought was, well do I go in there and try to rescue them?

Officials say the grandmother woke up to the sight of an orange light and rushed to the children's bedroom through the smoke-filled house.

"The kids were sleeping in bunk beds and she had the presence of mind despite the thick smoke to open the window and grab the 6 year old boy off the top bunk and lower him off the window..."

Philips says the grandmother than went to the lower bunk where the twin sisters were sleeping.

"Got one of the girls and was able to lower her out the window as well and when she returned for the third child, she couldn't find her, she frantically searched and its all she could do to get herself out of the house."

When fire officials extinguished the blaze they located the body of the 3-year old child.

The victim is identified as Sarah Johnson.

Foul play and arson have both been ruled out.

"It's such a tradgeic time for this family... and our thoughts and prayers go out to them and they're going to need a lot of support from the area, neighbors and friends over the coming weeks and months."

In Duluth, LeAnn Wallace, the Northlands NewsCenter.

Donations can be made in the name of Johnson Memorial Benefit Fund, C/O North Shore Bank
17 East Calvary Road,
Duluth, MN 55803