The Northland FireWire

September 25 – After 34+ years with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department,  Emergency Communications Specialist Jan Makowski has retired.  Makowski worked for over 30 years at the Virginia dispatch center (Midway) and then transferred to the consolidated dispatch facility in Duluth.  Throughout her last day at work, numerous public safety organizations called via radio wishing Makowski a happy retirement.  “Jan had our backs,” said a number of EMS personnel.  “She is going to be missed!”  Prior to joining the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, Makowski worked for two years as a dispatcher at the Ely Police Department.  Makowski is a member of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad and the Greenwood First Responders.  To honor her many years of public safety dispatching, Makowski was given a ride on the LifeLink 6 helicopter in Hibbing. 

September 14 – Virginia and Mountain Iron firefighters were dispatched early this morning to a van and garage fire.  The blaze, which started out as a vehicle fire, quickly spread to the nearby garage at 1200 2nd Avenue South.  The fire was called in around 5:50 a.m.  The van and garage were destroyed.  No injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

September 11 – For Hibbing firefighters, as is the case with many firefighters across the country and even the world, September 11th is a day of deep reflection.  It is the day when 343 New York City firefighters lost their lives when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center buildings.  As they have done for several years, Hibbing firefighters marked the day with a very solemn ceremony in front of the Hibbing Fire Department headquarters building.  The ceremony included prayers by some of the area’s clergy and the ringing of the 5-5-5 alarm, which means that a New York firefighter has died.  Hibbing Fire Captain Chris Petrack, who served as Master of Ceremonies, reminded the gathering that even though 12 years have passed since that tragic day, “we must hold true to the phrase of “Always Remember, Never Forget.”

Photo courtesy of the Hibbing Fire Department

Staffing: Four career firefighters, six career Paramedics, Full-time Fire Chief, 21 volunteer firefighters, 19 volunteer EMT’s

2012: 34 fire calls and 989 ambulance calls

IFFD Apparatus: 2004 Peterbilt Full-Response Pumper(Custom Fire), 2004 Peterbilt Rescue(Custom Fire), 1982 Ford pumper with 50′ Squrt, 2004 F550 Ford grass rig with Darley portable pump, 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2012 E450 Horton ambulance, 2011 E450 Horton, 2010 E450 Horton ambulance, 2007 E450 Horton ambulance.

Rural Fire Association Apparatus: 2010 International pumper(KME), 1989 Ford 3,000 gallon water tender with Hale portable pump

The International Falls Fire Department and Ambulance Service has six Mustang suits, an inflatable Oceanaid RDC for ice water rescue.  The department’s rescue truck is set up with hydraulic rescue tools, Will-Burt light tower and an enclosed command center.  The IFFD also has a De-Con trailer and enclosed Haz Mat trailer.

September 2 – The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department are continuing the investigation into Saturday’s (September 1) early morning fire that extensively damaged the Vermilion Motel in Cook.  The fire was reported around 3:00 a.m. and was fought by half a dozen fire departments.  Damages are reportedly around $500,000.

Photos by Dallas Johnson-Orr Fire Department

August 19 – A home on Woodlawn Circle in Fayal Township, south of Eveleth, was extensively damaged by fire this morning.  Fayal and Eveleth firefighters(dual page) were dispatched shortly before 5:30 a.m.  Arriving crews found the upper portion of the house engulfed in flames.  The family inside the residence was able to escape.  Firefighters from Gilbert, Clinton, and Biwabik Township were called in for assistance.  The Mountain Iron Fire Department provided a Rapid Intervention Team(RIT).  No injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fire erupts from the house on Woodlawn Circle in Fayal Township

Mountain Iron RIT standing by at the scene

Photos courtesy of the Fayal Fire Department

August 16 – Firefighters from six Iron Range fire departments were kept busy this afternoon as fire caused extensive damage to a house in Virginia’s Southside area.  The blaze, located at 709 5th Avenue Sourth, was reported just before 2:30 p.m. by a passerby who quickly called 911.  Virginia police officers, who first arrived on the scene, rescued a young woman and two young children.  The entire front of the house was engulfed in flames. Virginia firefighters were assisted by crews from Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Fayal Township, Gilbert and Hibbing.  The three occupants were treated for smoke inhalation. One firefighter received a minor burn.  Firefighters remained on the scene until about 6:00 p.m.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Virginia Fire Department, Virginia Police Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.  According to media reports, cause is said to be “suspicious” in nature.

Photo by Michelle Zadra for The Northland Fire Wire

August 16 – A semi tractor trailer carrying Ammonium Nitrate rolled over near the entrance to Hibbing Taconite on St. Louis County Highway 5.  The incident was reported around 8:20 a.m. and required the resources of four area fire departments (Hibbing, Chisholm, French Township and the Hibbing Taconite Fire Brigade).  Hibbing firefighters assessed the damages to the tanker and contained leaking fluids from the semi truck.  It was determined that none of the Ammonium Nitrate (42,000 pounds)was spilled.  The highway was shut down for a number of hours in order to establish a safe zone around the accident.  The driver of the tanker received minor injuries.  The cause of the rollover is under investigation.

Photo: Hibbing Fire Department

The Lakeland Fire Department, which serves an area south of Biwabik, is celebrating 50 years of service.  An Open House is set for this Friday, July 19, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.  A number of activities are planned.  The firehall is located on St. Louis County Highway 4.