Alex Paavola dies in fatal Tapiola house fire

Alex Paavola dies in fatal Tapiola house fire

Fatal Tapiola house fire death of Alex Paavola – Obituary

A tragic house fire in Tapiola, Michigan, on Saturday claimed the life of 39-year-old Alex Paavola, who, according to law enforcement, had previously threatened to ignite the blaze.

The Houghton County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies were called around 7:40 a.m. to respond to a domestic incident at a residence where Paavola had allegedly gone to his parents’ home and made threats to set it on fire. His parents reportedly escaped to a nearby neighbor’s house and contacted authorities for help.

By the time emergency personnel arrived, the house was already in flames. Deputies quickly established a perimeter and began looking for Paavola with the help of Michigan State Police K9 units, drone teams, and officers from both Houghton and Hancock police departments.

Once the fire was brought under control, a body was discovered within the ruins. Authorities later confirmed the deceased was Paavola.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Fire crews from Otter Lake, Chassell Township, and Hurontown assisted at the scene, along with the Michigan State Police Fire Marshal, the Houghton County Medical Examiner’s Office, and Mercy Ambulance.

This was one of two fatal fires in Houghton County that day, with the other resulting in the death of a teenage boy in Laurium.