February 18 – Eight people from two families were displaced as a result of an early morning house fire in Ely. The blaze was reported around 1:00 a.m. on White Street. All of residents were safely evacuated, but one occupant was taken to the Ely hospital for treatment of possible smoke inhalation. A Babbitt firefighter received a wrist injury after slipping and falling on the ice. Firefighters from Ely, Babbitt, and Morse-Fall Lake were dispatched to the fire. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting those occupants impacted by the fire.

Submitted photo

February 8 – Firefighters from several Iron Range departments were kept busy this afternoon at a stubborn chimney fire in Biwabik Township. The fire was reported on Sandy Lane. Crews from Biwabik Township, Lakeland, Gilbert, and Fayal Township battled the fire. Fire officials told The Northland Fire Wire that there was some fire and water damage around the chimney area. No injuries were reported.

February 2 – Firefighters from several Iron Range communities were dispatched this evening to a house fire in Eveleth. The fire was reported around 7:45 p.m. in the 800 block of Adams Avenue. Initial dispatches said the fire started in the kitchen area and spread to rest of the house. Arriving crews saw smoke and flames coming from one of the windows. Departments responding to the blaze included: Eveleth, Virginia, Fayal Township, Mountain Iron and Gilbert. No injuries were reported. The home had extensive damage. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called in to investigate the fire.

December 31- EMS and fire personnel from several Iron Range communities were dispatched to the Fitzgerald Nursing Home in Eveleth this morning. A number of residents were impacted by carbon monoxide, with five (two patients and three staff) being transported to Essentia Health-Virginia. Ambulances from Eveleth, Virginia, Hibbing and Biwabik were paged to the facility, along with firefighters from Eveleth and Fayal Township. The incident was reported around 8:20 a.m. The source of the carbon monoxide was believed to be a generator at the building.

December 31 – Ely fire officials have released additional details regarding last Wednesday’s fire at the Grahek Apartments in Ely and the death of 70 year old David Cashman. An investigation involving the Ely Fire Department, Ely Police Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office determined that Cashman died from a medical condition prior to the start of the fire. Cashman’s body was discovered shortly after Ely firefighters knocked down the blaze in his apartment. The cause of the fire was determined to be smoking materials and ruled accidental. Ely firefighters, Ely ambulance personnel and law enforcement officers were able to quickly evacuate the apartment building’s residents to the nearby Ely-Bloomenson Hospital shortly after the fire was called in. No other injuries were reported. The Babbitt and Morse-Fall Lake fire departments were also dispatched. Ely fire officials reminded area residents to have a fire escape plan, as well as working smoke detectors.

The Northland Fire Wire remembers and salutes retired Hibbing Fire Captain Steve Gillitzer who unselfishly gave his life on Monday morning while attempting to save his family during a house fire. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for others”-John 15:13.

December 26 – A Chisholm area home received extensive smoke damage as a result of a late afternoon fire. The fire, reported around 4:30, was in the 6900 block of Highway 73. Firefighters from: Chisholm, Evergreen, French Township, Buhl, and Kinney-Great Scott were on the scene. Chisholm Fire Chief Bob Brown said all of the occupants and pets were able to safely leave the residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

December 26-Two adults and two children died as a result of an early morning house fire in Hibbing. The blaze was reported shortly after 1:30 at 212 42nd Street East. Arriving Hibbing firefighters rescued four people(two adults and two children) and began CPR on the two children, who were transported by the Chisholm Ambulance Service to the Hibbing hospital. 67 year old Steve Gillitzer and 63 year old Pat Gillitzer were pronounced dead at the scene. Their grandchildren, nine year old Todd Gillitzer and three year old Isaiah Adams were airlifted to trauma centers, where they later died. A third grandchild, Jonathan Gillitzer, who was outside the home when crews arrived, received non life threatening injuries and was taken to the Hibbing hospital. Hibbing fire officials said Gillitzer, a retired Hibbing firefighter, woke up and was able to get Jonathan out of the burning house and then returned to rescue the others. He did not make it out alive.
Firefighters from: Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, Nashwauk, Virginia, Buhl, Clinton Townsip, and Fayal Township were on the scene. The Nashwauk Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hibbing Fire Marshal’s Office, with assistance from the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. News media reports say smoke alarms were sounding at the time of the fire.

December 3 – The Virginia Fire Department is continuing to investigate the source of a carbon monoxide leak which sent 12 people to the hospital. The incident was reported around 10:10 a.m. at a residence in the 1200 block of 19th Street South in Virginia (Ridgewood area). EMS units from Virginia, Eveleth, and Biwabik were dispatched to the scene. Seven people at the residence were transported to Essentia Health-Virginia, with several later airlifted to other medical facilities. Two Virginia paramedic/firefighters, two Virginia police officers, and a St. Louis County Deputy Sheriff were also evaluated for CO exposure.

The McKinley Fire Department, in cooperation with the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross, began installing free smoke alarms this week in the homes of city residents. According to McKinley Assistant Fire Chief Peter Makowski, residents were notified in October via utility bills and a local newspaper story about the program. “We discovered that those who contacted us had no smoke alarms or alarms that were out of date,” said Makowski. Firefighters Tom Lautigar and Dave Peterson installed over 20 alarms in a number of residents. The American Red Cross provided the alarms, while the McKinley Fire Department handled the installation. According to Makowski, the department hopes to wrap up the program within the next week.

McKinley firefighters Tom Lautigar and Dave Peterson install a smoke detector in a McKinley home.