May 10 – The Virginia City Council has unanimously approved Scott Fredrickson as Interim Fire Chief of the Virginia Fire Department. Fredrickson, who serves as Deputy Fire Chief, has been with the department for 18 years. He takes over from Allen Lewis who left the department on May 5th to take a job in the private sector. Fredrickson told The Northland Fire Wire that he plans to be with the VFD for the next 11 years. The selection of a new fire chief currently rests with the city council’s personnel committee.

May 10 – Virginia EMS/Fire personnel were dispatched this morning (Wednesday) to a single vehicle crash in the city. The crash was reported around 7:00 a.m. at the intersection of 11th Street South and 6th Avenue. Crews first stabilized the vehicle so it would not roll over and then proceeded to cut the roof in order to remove the driver. The driver was transported to Essentia Health-Virginia with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries. The crash is under investigation by the Virginia Police Department.

May 10 – This evening was a perfect night for the Gilbert, Fayal Township, and Eveleth fire departments to work together on controlled grass burning in the City of Gilbert. Recent warm weather accompanied by sunny skies helped to make for ideal burn conditions.

May 8 – A large home in the Palo area near Aurora was destroyed by fire this afternoon. The blaze was reported around 4:30 in the 5200 block of the East Bodas Road. The home was heavily engulfed in flames when the first fire crews arrived. A family dog and two cats perished. The Palo, Aurora, Lakeland, and Colvin Township fire departments were on the scene while the Hoyt Lakes Ambulance Service provided medical standby. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

May 6 – Firefighters from the Minnesota DNR, Embarrass, and Pike-Sandy-Britt battled a wildland fire in the Embarrass area this morning. The fire, in the 7600 block of the North Skarp Road in Waasa Township, consumed about half an acre of grassland. Several vehicles, including a semi tractor, were also burned. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Minnesota DNR reminds residents to use extreme care with all recreational and permitted fires. While the area received a lot of snow this winter, along with some heavy rains, the forest and grassland areas are starting to dry out and could burn rapidly under the right conditions. Photos courtesy of the Embarrass Fire Department.

Fire apparatus set up at the wildland fire in the Embarrass area.

May 4 – Members of the Fayal Fire Department took advantage of tonight’s ice conditions on Ely Lake and practiced a number of ice rescue techniques. These techniques involved several scenarios from self rescue to using the department’s ice rescue boat. The Fayal Fire Department reminds residents that the warm weather has led to deteriorating ice conditions on area lakes.

The Northland Fire Wire has received the following information about Mark 3 pumps. The information is courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

May 4 – Virginia Fire Chief Allen Lewis will be leaving the fire department at the end of this week. Lewis, who has been with the department for seven years, will go to work in the private sector. During his time with the VFD, Lewis was noted for encouraging personnel to better themselves through continuing education. “Education is the key to the future,” Lewis said. “Further education betters a person in so many ways. It adds to personal and professional growth and achievement.” It is expected that Deputy Fire Chief Scott Fredrickson will serve as Interim Fire Chief until a new chief is selected. Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe thanked Lewis for his hard work and dedication to the department. “Chief Lewis helped to set the bar for the department,” said Cuffe. “His skill and expertise will be missed.”

April 25 – A vacant and soon to be demolished building in downtown Virginia provided an excellent training opportunity for Virginia firefighters. The department was able to use the building for practicing a number of operations. According to Virginia Battalion Chief Kevin Poffs, three main goals were accomplished including: building construction, vertical ventilation, and aerial ladder operations. The former Range Music building was also used by the fire department for other training activities like search and rescue. “We certainly took advantage of the building in order to sharpen our skills,” said Poffs.