January 25-Virginia, Mountain Iron, and Eveleth firefighters were called early this afternoon to an electrical fire at the ArcelorMittal taconite plant north of Virginia.  The fire was contained to a transformer.  No injuries were reported.  The incident was reported around 12:55 and crews were on the scene for less than an hour.

January 1 -Virginia, Eveleth, and Mountain Iron firefighters were called to a house fire in Virginia this evening.  The fire was reported in the 900 block of 3rd Avenue South. Arriving Virginia firefighters found the small house filled with smoke and a fire in the basement, which was extinguished.  No one was home at the time and no injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

The recent tragic deaths of two Cloquet residents on White Iron Lake near Ely should remind all of us that ice is never 100% safe.  Stay informed of the ice thickness of area lakes and rivers.  And, if you don’t know,…don’t go!

December 16- Six fire departments spent this evening fighting a huge house fire in Clinton Township. The fire was reported around 4:50 p.m. on the Baker Road. The house was a total loss. The occupants were able to get out safely. No injuries were reported. Fire departments on the scene included: Clinton, McDavitt, Cherry, Fayal, Kinney-Great Scott, and Mountain Iron. The Virginia Fire Department provided medical standby on the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

November 25 – Firefighters from Hibbing, Chisholm, and Keewatin battled a house fire in Hibbing tonight. The fire was reported around 5:45 p.m. in the 2000 block of 5th Avenue West. A Hibbing fire official told The Northland Fire Wire that they were originally dispatched to a report of smoke in the area and fire crews discovered the house fire. No one was home at the time. No injuries were reported. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting in investigating the cause of the fire.

November 25 – The Gilbert, Eveleth, and Fayal Township fire departments were dispatched this morning to a large garage fire in rural Gilbert. The blaze was reported around 6:55 a.m. on the Differding Point Road. The garage was destroyed and a camper parked nearby was damaged. No injuries were reported. The Eveleth Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting the Gilbert Fire Department in determining the cause of the blaze.

November 21 – Tower and Breitung firefighters were on the scene of a house fire in Tower. The fire was reported around 4:45 p.m. on Alder Street. Most of the damage appeared to be on an outside wall. A Tower fire official said there was a minimal amount of damage. No one was home at the time. No injuries were reported. The Tower Ambulance Service provided medical stand-by at the scene.

Tower and Breitung Township firefighters on the scene of a minor house fire in Tower.

November 21 – Four Iron Range fire departments (Mountain Iron, Virginia, Pike-Sandy-Britt, Fayal Township) were dispatched this morning to a report of a possible fire at the Lake Country Power building in Mountain Iron. There was an initial report of smoke in an electronics room. The employees safely evacuated the building and after an extensive search, firefighters found no active fire. The incident was reported around 9:40 and firefighters were on the scene for just over an hour.

Virginia’s aerial ladder is set up so firefighters can check the roof.

November 15 – At least seven people were evacuated this evening from an apartment house in Virginia. Virginia and Eveleth fire and EMS personnel were dispatched around 8:40 p.m. to the 100 block of 2nd Street North after occupants noticed a gas smell outside of the building. High levels of Carbon Monoxide were initially detected inside the building by firefighters. All of the occupants, including a number of small children, were evaluated by EMS personnel at the scene. No one was transported to the hospital.

Virginia and Eveleth firefighters on the scene of a Carbon Monoxide call in Virginia.

November 12 – Over half a dozen fire departments battled a late night fire at Zup’s grocery store in Cook. The fire was reported around 8:45 p.m. Witnesses saw flames and smoke coming from the back of the building. Firefighters used a combination of hydrants and drop tanks to fight the large blaze. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, the store is a total loss. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office has been on the scene to investigate the cause of the fire. No damage estimate is available. Departments are on the scene included: Cook, Orr, Greenwood, Pike-Sandy-Britt, Evergreen, Embarrass, Bearville, and Virginia.

Heavy smoke erupts from the Zup’s grocery store.