ESCANABA — Police have not yet identified the remains of an individual killed in a fire on Ludington Street on Jan. 24 that destroyed two downtown businesses and damaged other buildings.

“We still do not have the individual identified,” Escanaba Public Safety Director John Gudwer told the Daily Press Thursday. “We do not, but we are in the process of trying to get that completed.”

According to Gudwer, the state crime lab is assisting with the identification of the body. He hopes to have a positive identification by the end of next week, but noted it may be longer before identification can be made.

“There’s just things out of our control for identification purposes, tests that need to be done,” he said.

After the body is identified, next of kin must be notified before a name can be released to the public.

Escanaba Public Safety officers were dispatched to Trinkets & Treasures, located 1011 Ludington Street, shortly before 2 a.m. on Jan. 24, on a report of flames going through the roof of the building. Within minutes of arriving on scene, the building was fully-engulfed with flames.

Officers entered nearby buildings and advised residents to evacuate. It was brought to officers’ attention that not all individuals in the apartment above Trinkets & Treasures were accounted for.

Not long after, the building collapsed.

Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control about eight hours later, but due to the collapse it was difficult to get the fire fully-extinguished. During the 12-hour period firefighters were on scene, heavy equipment was brought in to give access to hot spots and to allow firefighters to search the debris for victims.

At approximately 11:20 a.m., the body of the missing individual was located.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the extent of the damage has made pinpointing an exact source of the blaze difficult.

“It does make it difficult, for sure, (finding) cause and origin — but we are trying,” said Gudwer.

Both Trinkets & Treasures and Schwalbach Kitchens were reduced to rubble by the fire, and neighboring buildings suffered smoke and water damage. East Ludington Gallery, which shared an exterior wall with Schwalbach Kitchens, also developed a large crack in the side of the building that may be beyond repair.

While fighting the fire, Escanaba Public Safety was assisted by Delta County Central Dispatch, the Delta County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, Rampart EMS, DTE. Escanaba Public Works, the Escanaba Water Department, Escanaba City Electric, Spectrum, Ford River Fire Department, Escanaba Township Fire Department, Bark River Fire Department, Masonville Fire Department, the Red Cross, Gene’s Towing, and Brunette & Sons Excavating.