February 16 – A vehicle fire this evening on U.S. Highway 53 in Virginia closed down the northbound lanes for a short time. The Virginia Fire Department was dispatched to the call around 7:00 P.M. near 2nd Avenue South. No injuries were reported. The SUV was extensively damaged.

February 16 – Four fire departments (Cherry, Clinton, Toivola, Kelsey) were dispatched to the Cherry School near State Highway 37 this afternoon when an air handling unit malfunctioned and filled two classrooms with smoke. The incident was reported around 2:20 P.M. According to fire department officials, the malfunction may have been caused by a power surge from a downed power line located about two miles from the school on County Road 452. The school was safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.

February 11 – A fire this evening in downtown Gilbert caused extensive damage to an apartment house. The Gilbert, Eveleth, Fayal, and City of Biwabik fire departments were dispatched around 9:30 P.M. to the 100 block of Broadway Street South. Heavy smoke and flames were observed coming from back of the building. A second alarm was requested, resulting in a response from the Biwabik Township, Lakeland, Mountain Iron, and Virginia fire departments. One of the occupants was treated on the scene for minor burns. No other injuries were reported. A house next to the building did receive smoke damage. The Gilbert and Eveleth police departments provided traffic control, along with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it is believed to be accidental in nature.

Lakeland Fire Chief Mike Plesha helps to direct firefighting operations on the south side of the building.

February 10 – A fire Saturday afternoon resulted in the loss of a home in the Brooklyn area of Hibbing. The blaze was reported around 4:00 P.M. in the 1500 block of 14th Avenue East. The house was a total loss. No injuries were reported, but Hibbing firefighters, who were initially inside the house fighting the blaze, had to quickly evacuate the structure when the fire became very intense. Seven departments (Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, Virginia, Cherry, Mountain Iron, Fayal) were on the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hibbing Fire Marshal.

Firefighters from several department in the staging area. A total of seven fire departments battled the blaze.

January 10 -Firefighters from Hibbing, Keewatin, Chisholm, Virginia, and Cherry were on the scene of a house fire in Hibbing this morning. The fire was reported just after 8:30 A.M. in the 2100 block of 41st Street East. The house, which was vacant at the time and undergoing renovation, was extensively damaged. No injuries were reported. The Clinton and Fayal fire departments were also dispatched, but cancelled while enroute. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hibbing Fire Marshal’s Office.

February 6 – An early morning fire has destroyed the main lodge at the Lutsen Resort, located along the North Shore of Lake Superior. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Department, the fire was reported around 12:24 A.M. Employees had noticed smoke coming from the floor of the building. When fire crews arrived, the lodge was engulfed in flames. Firefighters from the Lutsen, Tofte, Grand Marais, Maple Hill, Gunflint, Finland, Silver Bay, and Grand Portage fire departments battled the huge blaze. The building is a total loss. There were no guests at the lodge when the fire broke out. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. Photos courtesy of WDIO-TV and Kate Batten (bottom photo).

January 21 – A trailer home in Clinton Township is considered a total loss after a late morning fire. The blaze was reported around 11:00 A.M. in the 4300 block of the Elbow Lake Road. The blaze was fought by crews from Clinton Township, Cherry Township, Kinney-Great Scott and Fayal Township. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

January 19 – Hibbing and Keewatin firefighters were on the scene of a garage fire in rural Hibbing this evening. The fire was reported just before 6:00 P.M. in the 12000 block of Townline Road. The fire was contained to the interior of the garage. No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation by the Hibbing Fire Marshal’s Office.