March 25- The sprinkler system in the shop area of the Diesel Mechanics Program at Hibbing Community College is being credited with containing an early morning semi truck fire. The alarm was reported around 4:35 a.m. Arriving Hibbing firefighters saw smoke coming from the shop area and discovered that a semi truck had been burning in the building. Crews from Chisholm and Keewatin were also on the scene. The truck was extensively damaged with damages estimated at $48,000 for the truck and $5,000 to clean up the building. Fire officials say damages would have been significant to the college had it not been for the sprinkler system. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

March 22 -The Virginia Fire Marshal continues to investigate the March 14th fire which caused extensive damage to a home in the 700 block of 12th Street North in Virginia. The fire was reported around 3:30 a.m. and was fought by crews from Virginia, Mountain Iron, and Eveleth. No injuries were reported and the occupant of the house was able to escape without injury.

March 21-Firefighters from six fire departments battled a fire at a wood workshop in Breitung Township. The fire was reported shortly after 8:00 a.m. in the 5400 block of Highway 169. The workshop had extensive damage. Departments responding included: Breitung, Tower, Greenwood, Eagles Nest, Vermilion Lake, and Embarrass. The suspected cause is a wood stove.

Sunday morning (2:00 a.m.) marks the beginning of Daylight Savings Time, which means you move your clock ahead one hour. The Northland Fire Wire reminds everyone that this is the prefect time to change the batteries in your smoke detector. Unfortunately, in many fatal fires, the batteries in smoke detectors have been removed or are dead. In addition, the absence of smoke detectors has led to needless fire deaths and injuries. Smoke detectors save lives. It’s really as simple as that.

February 26- Firefighters from nearly half a dozen Iron Range departments were dispatched to a report of a fire at the Range Funeral Home on 9th Avenue and 16th Street North in Virginia. The fire was reported around 8:40 a.m. Heavy smoke was reported to be coming from the northwest corner of the building. Firefighters were able to locate a fire in the basement and contained it to the room of origin. The building had minor smoke and water damage. Virginia Fire Marshal Chris Clark told The Northland Fire Wire that the cause is under investigation and no damage estimate is available. No injuries were reported. Fire departments at the scene included: Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Gilbert, and Fayal.

February 16 – The Eveleth, Fayal, Gilbert, and Virginia fire departments were dispatched to a report of a stove/grease fire in the 200 block of Fayal Road in Eveleth. Eveleth Fire Chief Scott Haas told The Northland Fire Wire that the house had minor smoke damage. No injuries were reported.

February 11- Virginia Paramedic/Firefighter Bob Olivanti was named Firefighter of the Year while Hibbing Battalion Chief Chris Petrack was named Fire Officer of the Year at the Second Annual Firefighters’ Ball held in Virginia. The event was hosted by the Northern Lights F.O.O.L.S organization. The Virginia Fire Department was selected as Fire Department of the Year.
Photo: Hibbing Battalion Chief Chris Petrack and Virginia Paramedic Bob Olivanti. Photo courtesy of Betsy Olivanti.

February 14- There has been another fatal house fire in the area. According to WDIO-TV, Duluth firefighters were dispatched around midnight to a report of a person possibly inside a fully engulfed house in the Lakeside area in the 4500 block of Cooke Street. Fire crews used a thermal imaging camera to locate the unconscious man, but he died from the effects of the fire. No other injuries were reported. The home is considered a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

December 27-Several fire departments from the Virginia area were dispatched to a fire at the Silver Loon Saloon, formerly known as The Mirage Bar, in the 500 block of Chestnut Street. Arriving Virginia firefighter/paramedics found heavy smoke coming from the two story business. Firefighters from Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Fayal Township and Hibbing were also dispatched. The front of the building appeared to have the most fire damage with the rest of the building having smoke and water damage. No damage estimate is available. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Virginia Fire Marshal and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Due to the dedicated and hard work of the Virginia Fire Department and the City of Virginia, the department was recently notified that it now has a Class 3 ISO rating. Previously, the department was ranked at Class 5. “This was a team effort all the way,” said Fire Chief Allen Lewis. “We had many aspects going for us including the mutual aid box alarm system, a good water supply system, and other advancements in the community’s fire protection system. I’m very proud of this achievement and it reflects well on our staff and the neighboring fire departments.”