October 31 – Area tick or treaters made visits to a couple of Iron Range fire departments Halloween night. The youngsters picked up treats at the Biwabik and Eveleth fire stations. ”It was a delight to have them stop in,” said one Eveleth official. ”They were very polite and well mannered.”

November 1 – An afternoon fire destroyed a chicken coop/hog building in rural Hibbing. The fire was reported around 3:55 P.M. in the in the 3200 block of 23rd Avenue East (Tapala Road). The building was a total loss, but all of the pigs and chickens were able to escape. No human injuries were reported. The Hibbing, Chisholm, and Keewatin fire departments were on the scene while the Virginia Fire Department provided standby at the Hibbing Fire Department headquarters. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

October 30 – Work is continuing on the construction of Chisholm’s new public safety building. The $11 million dollar project is being funded by federal, state, and local resources. When completed next year, the building will house Chisholm’s police, ambulance, and fire departments.

October 28 – Several dozen residents from the Colvin Township area stopped in at this afternoon’s open house and chili feed hosted by the Colvin Fire Department. The event, held at the townhall, allowed firefighters to talk about the department and to provide tours of the firehall. At least five kinds of chili, ranging from mild to hot were offered. ”We had a wonderful time meeting our community member,” said Colvin firefighter Evan Sandstede. ”We are thankful for our community support!”

October 24 – Firefighters from the Clinton, Cherry, and Kinney-Great Scott fire departments participated in a joint training session this evening at the Clinton Fire Department. According to organizers, the classroom and hands-on training focused on lithium-ion battery fires and fuel fires. With more and more electric vehicles (EV’s) on the road, the training also included EV fires and the special hazards such vehicles present. All three fire departments (Clinton, Cherry, Kinney-Great Scott) respond as mutual aid to fires and other incidents in each other’s communities. Photos: Clinton Fire Department.

October 27 – Fire departments from Eveleth, Fayal, Gilbert, Mountain Iron, Virginia, Clinton, Biwabik, and Central Lakes battle two house fires in Eveleth this afternoon. The fire was reported around 3:00 P.M. in the 600 block of Douglas Avenue. When the first firefighters arrived, they found one house engulfed in smoke and flames with the fire spreading to an adjacent house. Crews worked to keep the blaze from spreading further. No injuries were reported, but a cat and rabbit perished while one cat was rescued by firefighters. The Eveleth Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene while the Eveleth and Gilbert police departments assisted in traffic control. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

October 24 – The Gilbert, Eveleth, Fayal, and City of Biwabik fire departments were dispatched this afternoon to a report of a structure fire in Gilbert. The call came in around 3:20 at a residence in the 100 block of Louisiana Avenue West. Using fire extinguishers, Gilbert police officers were able to contain the fire to the stove. Gilbert firefighters checked the kitchen area for possible fire spread while the other departments were put on standby. No injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation.

October 25 – The Hibbing, Chisholm, and Keewatin fire departments were dispatched this afternoon to a possible structure in Hibbing. The fire was reported around 4:40 at a garage apartment located in the 2100 block of 2nd Avenue West. Arriving firefighters discovered a dryer fire on the ground floor of the building. The fire was contained to the dryer, which was a complete loss. No injuries were reported and crews were on the scene for less than an hour.

The Colvin Fire Department, located on St. Louis County Highway 4, has scheduled an open house for this upcoming weekend. Please see the poster shown below.

October 18 – The Pike-Sandy-Britt Fire Department has a new piece of equipment in service. It’s a 2023 GMC 2500 that is being used for EMS, rescue, and command operations. The cost of “Truck 5” was put around $55,000. It’s first call was today when it responded to a semi tractor-trailer crash on U.S. Highway 53, just north of Virginia. At this incident, Truck 5 was used to assist in traffic control. The apparatus replaces an older pick-up truck.