February 25/26 – Four Iron Range fire departments were kept busy Thursday night and Friday morning with two separate house fires in Virginia. The first fire was reported around 10:10 p.m. Thursday in the 800 block of 13th Street North. The fire was contained to the basement area at the back of house. One occupant was evaluated for possible smoke inhalation by Virginia paramedic/firefighters. No injuries were reported. At around 2:40 a.m., another house fire was reported in 100 block of 2nd Street South. Flames and smoke could be seen coming from the small house, with heavy fire on the main floor. All of the occupants were able to safely evacuate the house. No injuries were reported, but the home had extensive damage. In both fires, crews from Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, and Hibbing were dispatched as part the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). The fires are under investigation by the Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office.

February 25 – The Tower, Breitung Township, and Greenwood Township fire departments were paged out this morning to a snowmobile fire at the gas pumps at Vermilion Fuel & Food in Tower. The fire was reported around 10:00 a.m. The owner of the snowmobile did have his clothing catch fire, but he was not injured. The snowmobile was a complete loss. Photos provided by The Timberjay newspaper.

February 23 – A garage near Nashwauk was destroyed by fire this morning. The blaze was reported around 9:15 a.m. in the 39000 block of Itasca County Road 336. The Balsam Township and Nashwauk fire departments responded. The Nashwauk Ambulance Service was also on the scene to provide medical standby. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The garage was heated by a wood burning stove.

February 22 – The Buhl, Chisholm, and Kinney-Great Scott fire departments were dispatched this evening (Monday) to a report of a house fire in Buhl. The fire was reported around 11:45 p.m. in the 400 block of Culver Avenue. A Buhl fire department official told The Northland Fire Wire that the fire was contained to the ceiling of the kitchen. It is suspected that the fire was electrical in nature. No injuries were reported.

February 21 – Eight Iron Range fire departments were involved in battling a fire at an industrial type building in Hibbing tonight. The fire was reported around 8:15 p.m. in the 1900 block of First Avenue. Arriving Hibbing firefighters saw smoke and flames in the large single story-l shaped building. The initial box alarm called for the Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, and Virginia fire departments. Additional resources were requested from the Cherry, Silica, Nashwauk, and Fayal Township departments. The Virginia Fire Department’s aerial ladder was positioned near the building and was used to provide a master stream into the structure. No injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting.

February 16 – Nine fire departments battled a late night fire in the downtown Mountain Iron area. The fire was reported around 10:00 p.m. in the 5700 block of Marble Avenue. The home was extensively damaged. No injuries were reported. Fire departments on the scene included: Mountain Iron, Virginia, Fayal Township, Kinney-Great Scott, Pike-Sandy-Britt, Clinton, Cherry, Gilbert, and Eveleth. It appeared the fire was in the siding of the two story house and then spread to the upper floor. Firefighters removed siding from the south side of the house and the Virginia Fire Department’s aerial ladder was used to control the fire in the front of the structure. Crews remained on the scene throughout the night and into early Wednesday morning. The temperature at the scene was around -20. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

February 15 – Keewatin, Nashwauk, and Hibbing firefighters battled a house fire in Keewatin this afternoon. The blaze was reported around 3:00 p.m. in the 300 block of Howard Avenue West. The two story house was already “fully involved” when Keewatin firefighters first arrived. The Nashwauk and Hibbing fire departments were called for mutual aid and Hibbing’s aerial apparatus was used to help bring the fire under control. No injuries were reported and initial radio reports said the house was safely evacuated. The house was extensively damaged. The Nashwauk Ambulance Service was on the scene to provide medical standby. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

January 29 – Chisholm, Buhl, and Hibbing firefighters were dispatched tonight to a report of a house fire in Chisholm. The call came in around 9:45 p.m. in the 300 block of 5th Street Southwest. Chisholm Fire Chief Chris Masucci told The Northland Fire Wire that the fire was contained primarily to the kitchen area, although firefighters did check for fire extension in other areas. No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.

January 23 – A large shop building at the Wolfridge Golf Course, south of Cook, was extensively damage this morning by fire. The fire was reported at 11:15 a.m. on the Savage Road. A major part of the building was destroyed while the rest of the structure had extensive smoke and water damage. Firefighters from Cook, Evergreen, Orr, Pike-Sandy-Britt, and Mountain Iron battled the fire, which required the use of several water tenders. No injuries were reported. The Cook Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene.

January 22 – Eight Iron Range fire departments battled a large house fire in Eveleth this evening. The blaze was reported around 6:00 p.m. in the 800 block of Pierce Street. Arriving fire crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof and attic area. Firefighters started with an interior attack, but pulled out when the roof began to collapse around the chimney area. An extensive exterior attack was then instituted, with the Squrt aerial from the Gilbert Fire Department utilized to work the roof area, along with hand lines on other areas of the exterior. Earlier in the afternoon, firefighters discovered a small insulation fire in the attack area, which was extinguished. Fire departments dispatched to the fire included: Eveleth, Fayal Township, Gilbert, Virginia, Mountain Iron, Central Lakes, Biwabik Township, Lakeland and Clinton. The Eveleth Ambulance Service and the Biwabik Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene. No injuries were reported. The home is extensively damaged.