April 1 – Jim Iammatteo of Keewatin has been named Chief Investigator at the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. Iammatteo has been active in fire investigations throughout the Arrowhead Region. He also served as Hibbing Fire Marshal.

March 27 – A house in rural Hibbing was destroyed by fire early this morning.  The fire was reported just before 3:00 a.m. at 10894 County Highway 92. Arriving firefighters found flames already coming from the one and a half story house.  The house was unoccupied at the time. Fire crews from Chisholm, Cherry, and Mountain Iron assisted Hibbing firefighters at the scene while the Virginia EMS and Fire Department provided emergency medical coverage.  No injuries were reported.  The house is being termed a total loss with damages estimated around $65,000.  The cause of the fire remains under  investigation.

Photo: Hibbing Fire Department

March 26 – Several Iron Range fire departments were dispatched to a report of a house fire in the south side area of Virginia.  The fire was reported around 6:45 p.m. in the 200 block of 4th Street South.  Virginia firefighters quickly knocked down the fire  and ventilated the large house.  The cause of the fire is under investigation

March 17 – The former Staver Foundry, which stood vacant for a number years, was extensively damaged by fire yesterday afternoon.  The call came in at 2:40 p.m. The building is located along 1st Avenue West and 10th Street South.  At the height of the fire, eight area fire departments were called in while the Eveleth and Hibbing ambulance services assisted with EMS calls. A backhoe was also brought in to assist in the firefighting effort.   Investigators from the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Virginia Fire Department went through the remains of the building today in an effort to determine a cause.  There were no reports of any injuries.  The building was considered a total loss.

The Itasca County Sheriff’s Department, Grand Rapids Fire Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office are continuing the investigation into the March 2nd mobile home fire that claimed the life of a three year old boy.  According to the Itasca County Sheriff’s Department, the Grand Rapids and Cohasset fire departments were dispatched at 9:25 p.m. to a mobile home fire at 20257 Wendigo Road in Harris Township, which is just south of Grand Rapids.  The person who called 911 said the structure was totally involved and that a small child was still in the residence.  A 38 year old man, 24 year old woman and a child were taken to the Grand Itasca Medical Center for treatment of smoke inhalation and other fire related injuries.  Firefighters later recovered the remains of the victim inside the residence.

March 6 – Chisholm firefighters, with mutual aid from Hibbing and Buhl, battled a house fire at 331 NW 10th Street in Chisholm.  The fire was reported at 7:10 p.m.  The Chisholm Fire Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire.

Chisholm’s 106 year old firehall is packed with apparatus and the city’s mayor, Mike Jugovich, feels it is a major safety concern.  Built in 1908, the building has outlived its usefulness but getting money to replace the aging structure for a new municipal building may be as difficult as fighting a fire in subzero temperatures.  The firehall is located at the corner of busy Highway 73 and Lake Street, right in the downtown area.  Because of its location, fire apparatus drivers have to be extremely careful leaving and backing into the firehall.  The Chisholm Fire Department also has a station connected to the Balkan Township Garage, located just north of the city on Highway 73.  This station houses the department’s water tenders.

Ideally, the city would like to construct a nearly three million dollar complex near the Chisholm water treatment plant in the northern part of the community.  The 45,000 square foot facility would include a new firehall, city garage and space to park school buses.  The existing firehall would be renovated to accommodate more space for the police department, which is currently located in the back of the building.  Additional renovations would include elevators and other improvements to bring it up to code.

While Chisholm is in need of a new firehall, getting state bonding money will be extremely difficult.  According to State Representative Carly Melin, the state has traditionally not bonded for municipal buildings for cities or townships.  In addition, Governor Mark Dayton did not include the city’s request in his 2014 Capital Budget recommendations. In Hoyt Lakes, the fire, ambulance and police departments recently moved into a renovated building.  The facility was funded through a number of sources including a $1.6 million city bond, $400,000 from the ambulance fund and $340,000 from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board(IRRRB).  Most of the information for this story came from a recent edition of the Mesabi Daily News.

February 27 – The Orr Fire Department has a rather unusual public assist call tonight.  The engine of a Canadian National train was overheating and needed water.  The fire department was dispatched and quenched the thirst of the train engine.  Always something new in the fire service!

Photo courtesy of the Orr Fire Department

The Duluth Fire Marshal’s Office is continuing to investigate the cause of a fire at the former headquarters of Gold Cross Ambulance(211 East 2nd Street).  Just before 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 26, a Duluth engine company was dispatched to a report of smoke in the area of 2nd Avenue East and 2nd Street.  The crew discovered smoke coming from the building and requested a full alarm response.  At the height of the blaze, 30 fire personnel and apparatus from throughout the city were on the scene, along with assistance from the Air National Guard Fire Department.  The building had three occupants: RLBCI(Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indian Outreach Center), a microbrewery operation and an auto repair shop.  The fire was contained to the body shop area in the center of the building.  There was smoke damage throughout the structure.  One firefighter suffered a minor shoulder injury.  Initial damage estimates are in excess of $150,000.

Photo: WDIO-WIRT TV