August 9 – The Virginia Fire Department recently announced that paramedic/firefighter Tiffany Larson has been promoted to the position of Division Chief of Training. As part of her duties, Larson will be coordinating regional training offered by the department. One such regional training session will be held on August 28, 5:30 p.m., starting at the Virginia firehall. The session will later include “hands-on” extrication training at the A-1 salvage yard, just outside of Virginia. For more information about this training, contact Larson at 218-749-3592 (office) or 218-929-3050 (cell). Congratulations, Tiffany!

August 7 – The Chisholm Fire Department and Chisholm Ambulance Service were dispatched this morning to a report of a gas smell in a residence in the 400 block of 4th Street Southwest. The smell may have been caused by smoke testing being conducted on the city’s sewer lines. Two residents from the home were evaluated by EMS personnel as a precautionary measure.

August 7 – The Virginia, Eveleth, and Mountain Iron fire departments were dispatched around 7:40 this morning to a report of a structure fire in the 200 block of 1st Street North. The incident turned out to be a small cooking fire. Firefighters were on the scene for less than half a hour. Area fire officials remind residents that even small cooking fires can turn deadly, but they can be preventable.

August 6 – Hundreds of people from across the region came out this evening to meet with public safety personnel and representatives of other civic and community organizations as part of National Night Out.  Gatherings were held across the region at parks and other community facilities.

August 5 – Eveleth firefighters were dispatched to a house in Eveleth to rescue a dog off a roof. The canine got on the roof through a partially open window and then couldn’t get back in. The incident was reported around 8:00 p.m. in the 500 block of Jackson Street.

The July 23rd fire at the former Idington church south of Cook was determined to be arson, A small fire was reported in the church and was quickly extinguished by Cook firefighters. The incident is under investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. The church, which was vacant for a number of years, also served as a gift shop and cafe.

With summer in full swing in the area, here’s a friendly safety reminder from the Arrowhead Region’s fire departments and The Northland Fire Wire.

July 26 – Fire departments throughout the Arrowhead Region were kept busy tonight as a series of heavy thunderstorm moved through the area.  There were a number of reports of trees across powerlines.  No major fires were reported. 

July 23 – The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a small fire at the former Idington church, located on Highway 53, south of Cook.  The fire was reported around 6:20 p.m.  The church, which had also served as a gift shop and café, was vacant for a number of years and is scheduled for demolition.