March 8 – Firefighters and law enforcement officers from the City of Virginia were dispatched yesterday afternoon (Thursday-March 7) to a report of person inside a semi tanker trailer, located in a garage. The incident was reported around 3:45 P.M. in the Ridgewood area of Virginia. A Hazardous Materials Team from the Duluth Fire Department was immediately called to the scene where it was determined that the 39 year old man inside the tanker was deceased. Recovery operations were conducted with Virginia and Duluth fire personnel. The name of the man has not yet been released. The Midwest Medical Examiners Office is assisting in the investigation.

March 6 – The Babbitt Fire Department was dispatched late this afternoon (Wednesday) to a semi tractor truck fire near the Benville area, west of Babbitt. The fire was reported around 5:30, close to a garage, in the 3200 block of St. Louis County Highway 2. The truck was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived and is considered a total loss. The garage was not damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

March 5 – Five Iron Range fire departments were dispatched late this morning to the 700 block of Park Avenue in Eveleth for a house fire. The call came in around 10:45. One person received burns and smoke inhalation and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. One pet, a dog, was found alive, while a cat was last reported as missing. Departments responding to the call included: Eveleth, Fayal, Gilbert, Virginia, and Mountain Iron. Eveleth Police and the Minnesota State Patrol provided traffic control on Jones Street, which is one of the main routes leading into Eveleth. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Four fire departments (Cook, Pike-Sandy-Britt, Kinney-Great Scott, Embarrass) fought a house fire this afternoon in the Lake Leander area, north of Virginia. The fire was reported around 1:15 in the 9700 block of Dickenson Lane. No one was home at the time. Firefighters rescued three dogs from the house. A St. Louis County Deputy Sheriff and a citizen administered CPR to the three dogs, with two of them being revived and recovering. The third dog did not survive. No human injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

March 1 – Six Duluth area fire departments (Lakewood, Clifton, Normanna, Gnesen, Rice Lake, Air National Guard 148th) were dispatched to a garage fire in Lakewood Township this afternoon. The fire was reported around 12:45 in 2500 block of the Lismore Road. The fire was contained to a piece of equipment inside the three-car detached garage as well as the interior of the building. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The St. Louis County Rescue Squad provided traffic control. Photo courtesy of the Lakewood Fire Department.