August 27 – The Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, and Virginia fire departments were dispatched this afternoon to a kitchen fire in Hibbing. The alarm came in shortly after 4:30 p.m. to a residence in the 2500 block of 6th Avenue East. The fire was quickly extinguished. Several cats and dogs were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hibbing Fire Marshal’s Office.

August 27 – Five Arrowhead Region fire departments are receiving federal funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The Floodwood Fire Department will get $231,127.62 for the purchase of a fire apparatus. Hibbing is in line for $32,010.48 for operations and safety. The Kinney-Great Scott Fire Department is receiving $74,655.24; Grand Lake, $63,333.33; and Lakeland, $55, 619.05. All three of these grants are also for operations and safety.

August 23 – Mountain Iron, Virginia, Clinton, and Kinney-Great firefighters, along with the Minnesota DNR, battled a grass and junkyard fire in rural Mountain Iron this afternoon. The fire was reported around 1:00 p.m. in the 4900 block of the Haenke Road. Several vehicles were destroyed. A helicopter was also brought in during the initial attack to keep the fire from spreading. The cause is under investigation.

August 23 – The Lakewood and Biwabik fire departments are in line to receive funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The awards were announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Biwabik will be getting $49,904.76 and Lakewood is receiving $145,333.33. Both grants are for Operations and Safety.

August 23- Around 30 fire departments from throughout the Arrowhead Region are part of the ground battle in the Greenwood Fire near Isabella. The departments are providing a vital role in structure protection. The blaze is also being fought by a variety of aircraft.

Jacob “Jake” Keehl, a five year veteran of the Virginia Fire Department, has been named as the department’s new fire marshal. Keehl is a firefighter/paramedic, engineer, and a member of the Arrowhead Urban Search and Rescue Team. He succeeds Chris Clark, who recently joined the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office as an investigator.

August 2 – The Gilbert Fire Department, in cooperation with Lifelink III, hosted a landing zone training session this evening. The training included classroom and hands-on training. Over a dozen Gilbert firefighters and members of the Gilbert First Responders took part. A highlight was when the Lifelink 6 medical helicopter, based at the Range Regional Airport in Hibbing, landed and later took off from the Gilbert ball field.

If you’re interested in learning more about vehicle extrication, here’s a great training opportunity for you. Please make your RSVP today.

July 31 – The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Hibbing Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of this morning’s house fire in Hibbing. The blaze was reported around 5:10 a.m. in the 2300 block of Fourth Avenue East. Hibbing Fire Chief Erik Jankila told The Northland Fire Wire that the house was extensively damaged. No injuries were reported. Four Iron Range fire departments responded to the blaze including: Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, and Virginia.

Virginia Fire Marshal Chris Clark has joined the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office as an investigator. Clark had been with the Virginia Fire Department for around 12 years, He was instrumental in promoting fire prevention in the community along with fire cause and determination. Clark started his position with the State Fire Marshal’s Office at the beginning of August.