June 6 – An early morning fire has destroyed a former supper club in the Britt area, north of Virginia. The blaze was reported shortly after 4:30 in the 7200 block of the Britt Bypass Road (formerly Highway 53). The building (formerly The Aspen and Elroy supper club) was involved in heavy smoke and fire when the first fire crews arrived. The occupants were able to safely evacuate and are being assisted by The Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross. Fire departments responding to the fire include: Pike-Sandy-Britt, Mountain Iron, Cook, Embarrass, and Vermilion Lake. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department is providing traffic control at the scene. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called in to investigate the cause of the fire.

May 24 – Gilbert firefighters assist EMS personnel from the Virginia Ambulance Service and LifeLink 6 at Gilbert Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Park. The park was the scene of a crash involving a single ATV. The driver was airlifted to a regional medical facility for treatment.

The Northland Fire Wire had the opportunity to travel through the Brimson/Ault Township area, the scene of a massive wildland fire which destroyed over 140 structures. The pictures speak for themselves.

May 21 – Fire crews from across Minnesota and the nation have been battling three large wildland fires in the Arrowhead Region of the state. The Camp House Fire, which started May 11 in the Brimson area, has consumed 12,106 acres and destroyed over 140 structures. The Jenkins Creek Fire, which started May 12, burned 16,694 acres. The smallest of the wildland fires occurred on May 12 near Cotton along the Munger Shaw Road. This fire consumed 1,600 acres. All three fires required suppression efforts from the ground and air, along with evacuation orders from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department. County highways and roads around the Jenkins Creek and Camp House fires remain closed. The Fire Danger in the region remains in High to Extreme categories.

May 11 – The Virginia, Eveleth, Mountain Iron, and Hibbing fire departments were dispatched this morning to the Essentia Medical Center in Virginia. The initial response for the Virginia department was for a fire alarm on the 3rd floor of the building. Upon arrival, Virginia firefighters discovered light smoke and an odor on the 3rd floor, which resulted in a Mutual Aid Box Alarm bringing in crews from Eveleth, Mountain Iron and Hibbing. Firefighters searched all four floors and the basement of the hospital. Hospital operations continued as normal. No injuries were reported. The cause of the smoke and odor is believed to be an electrical problem.

May 9 – Thirteen people were displaced when the facade on an Eveleth apartment building collapsed. The incident was reported around 11:00 this morning at the Essling Apartments, located at the corner of Adams Avenue and Jones Street. No one was injured. The Eveleth, Fayal Township, Gilbert, Mountain Iron, Central Lakes, Clinton, and Biwabik Township fire departments were paged to the scene while the Eveleth and Biwabik ambulance services provided medical standby. Eveleth Police said those displaced by the collapse are receiving services from The Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross. A structural engineer will also be brought in to evaluate the condition of the building and determine why the facade fell down.

May 8 – Several fire departments from the Lake Vermilion area battled a cabin fire this afternoon in Greenwood Township. The Greenwood, Breitung Township, and Tower fire departments were paged to the 4500 block of Serentiy Point Road around 3:05. The cabin was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, with the blaze spreading into the nearby woods. Crews from the Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade, U.S. Forest Service and Minnesota DNR also responded while the Tower Ambulance Service provided medical standby. No injuries were reported. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, the cabin fire resulted from a nearby campfire. The area is currently in the High Fire Danger category.

May 8 – Fire crews from Pike-Sandy-Britt, U.S. Forest Service, and Minnesota DNR were dispatched this afternoon to a pick-up truck fire which spread into a wildland fire along U.S. Highway 53, about 15 miles north of Virginia. The fire was reported around 3:30 just off of the northbound lane. The pick-up was a total loss and less than an acre of land appeared to have been burned. No injuries were reported. The Minnesota State Patrol provided traffic control. The cause of the pickup truck fire is under investigation.

May 8 – Fire destroyed a United Parcel Service (UPS) truck in downtown Tower late this afternoon. The fire was reported around 5:30 in the 300 block of Main Street, next to Zup’s Supermarket. A nearby SUV was also damaged. No injuries were reported. Firefighters from Tower, Breitung Township, Cook, Vermilion Lake Township and Eagles Nest Township responded while the Ely Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene. Traffic control came the from Breitung Police Department and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department. The cause of the fire is under investigation.