The Northland FireWire

April 28 – Nine fire department battled a large house fire in Breitung Township today. The blaze was reported by a passerby around 6:05 A.M. in the 5300 block of the Junction Road. The fire, which is believed to have started in the basement, quickly spread to the rest of house. Fire departments on the scene included: Breitung, Tower, Greenwood, Eagles Nest, Ely, Embarrass, Pike-Sandy-Britt, Vermilion Lake and Morse-Fall Lake. The Tower Area Ambulance Service (TAAS) provided medical standby at the scene. No injuries were reported. The house is a total loss. A Breitung Fire Department official said the cause of the fire is undetermined because of the massive extent of damages.

April 26 – Fayal Township, Eveleth, Mountain Iron, Gilbert, Lakeland and the City of Biwabik participated at an aircraft firefighting course hosted at the Fayal Fire Department. The live fire training involved several scenarios, allowing participants to sharpen their skills. The training was conducted by ARFF Specialists of Carlton. The Eveleth Ambulance Service provided medical standby.

April 22 – Five fire departments were dispatched this morning to a large garage fire in Pike Township, north of Virginia. The fire was reported shortly before 10:30 a.m. at the former Aysta Dairy, located in the 6900 block of Hill Road South. The fire was in the attic area of the huge garage. Fire departments on the scene included: Pike-Sandy-Britt, Vermilion Lake, Embarrass, Cook, and Mountain Iron. One firefighter was transported by a Virginia ambulance to a local hospital for exhaustion. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.

April 6 – A 43 year old man was injured early this morning, the result of an early morning house fire in Alango Township, south of Cook. The blaze was reported around 1:00 a.m. in the 9900 block of County Highway 22, The man was injured when jumped from a second story window. He was taken by Cook Ambulance to a local with smoke inhalation and non-life threatening injuries. His aunt and homeowner, a 67 year old woman was able safely escape the burning house. Fire departments responding to the blaze included: Cook, Evergreen, Pike-Sandy-Britt, and Mountain Iron. The house is considered to be a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Cook Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene.

The application period for the Miinesota DNR’s Fire Assistance Grant Program is now underway. Information about the program is listed below.

April 1 – Multiple fire departments from across the Iron Range battled a house fire in Virginia early this morning. The fire was reported around 1:30 a.m. in the 100 block of 7th Street South by a Minnesota State Trooper who was in the area at the time. Arriving firefighters found the main level of the two story vacant house engulfed in flames. Because of the intensity of the blaze, firefighters first engaged in a “defensive attack.” Once the heavy fire was knocked down, crews engaged in an “interior attack” and took care of anything inside that was still burning. The first departments on the scene included: Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, and Hibbing. A Second Alarm was called in, which brought firefighters from Gilbert, Fayal Township, and Pike-Sandy-Britt (PSB). The Eveleth and Biwabik ambulance services were put on standby to cover EMS calls in the area while PSB firefighters were stationed at the Virginia Fire Department. No injuries were reported and the house was vacant at the time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Virginia Fire Marshal and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. The house had been the scene of an arson fire last year.

March 27 – When a partial roof collapse occurred earlier this month (March 14) at the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth, Minnesota Task Force 2 was called in to assist the Duluth Fire Department. Twenty three members of the team responded when Task Force 2 was activated by the Minnesota State Duty Officer. Task Force 2 consists of personnel from the Duluth, Virginia, and Minnesota Air National Guard 148th fire departments. Members receive extensive training in building construction, types of collapses, and shoring techniques. No injuries were reported. Extensive repair work at the mall is now underway.

March 27 – Hibbing’s new engine went into service earlier this month. The Rosenbauer Warrior, manufactured in Wyoming, Minnesota, has a 1,500 gallon per minute (GPM) pump, 1,000 gallon tank, and 30 gallon Class A foam tank. The apparatus is also designed as an Advanced Life Support (ALS) engine and carries Genesis extrication equipment. “This is our first out” engine”, said Battalion Fire Chief Andy Anderson. ”It’s designed to handle a variety of calls from EMS responses to initial fire suppression.” The cost of the engine was $580,000. It’s first call was to a CO alarm going off during the early morning hours of March 14.

The 2023 Minnesota Wildfire Academy is set for June. Registrations are now being taken.

March 5 – Fayal Township, Eveleth, and Central Lakes firefighters were dispatched this evening (Sunday) to a sauna fire in Fayal Township. The dispatch went out around 6:10 p.m. to the 8100 block of State Highway 37. Firefighters were able to prevent major damage to the structure with damages limited to around $2,000. No injuries were reported.