September 24- Over half a dozen Iron Range fire departments were dispatched to a house fire on the Oxbow Road in McDavitt Township.  The fire was reported around 12:15 p.m.  The home was a complete loss.  No injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire is under investigation by the McDavitt Fire Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.  Firefighters from McDavitt, Clinton Township, Cherry Township, Toivola, Virginia, Fayal Township, Eveleth, Chisholm and the Minnesota DNR were on the scene throughout the day. 

Firefighters assist in salvage and overhaul operations at the Oxbow Road fire.

Eveleth EMT/Firefighters Laura Korpi and Lisa Thomas captured the Taster’s Choice Award in the St. Michael’s Foundation Second Annual Chili Cook-Off.  The event was held Thursday, September 20, at the Mountain Iron Community Center.  Proceeds from the event went to the St. Michael’s Foundation, which will use the money to purchase electric beds for residents at its Virginia skilled nursing facility.

Eveleth EMT/Firefighters Laura Korpi and Lisa Thomas

September 19 – EMS and fire personnel from the Eveleth Ambulance Service, Eveleth Fire Department and Virginia Fire Department were dispatched to a two vehicle accident on Highway 53 and Hatrick Avenue in Eveleth.  The driver of one vehicle, 16 year old Hannah Wilson of Virginia, was airlifted from the scene to Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, where she later died from her injuries.  The driver of the other vehicle, 38 year old Jeffrey Reed of Duluth, was transported with minor injuries to the Virginia Regional Medical Center.  The northbound lane of Highway 53 was closed down for several hours with traffic being diverted to a frontage road.  The accident, reported around 3:30 p.m., remains under investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol.

September 11 – The International Falls Fire Department remembered 9-11 in a special way.  An American flag was displayed from the department’s Squrt apparatus. 

Photo: Courtesy I-Falls Fire Department

September 17 – The Virginia and Mountain Iron fire departments were dispatched this evening to a report of a structure fire at Kunnari’s Farmers Market, located on Virginia’s southside.  Crews quickly contained the blaze, which was located in a storage type building.  News media reports say the building was destroyed.  Virginia Fire Chief Dan L’Allier told The Northland Fire Wire that the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Photo by Mike Zadra, Northland Fire Wire

The Hibbing Fire Department honored those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  A special presentation was held this morning outside of Hibbing’s main fire station.  HFD Captain Chris Petrack served as the MC for the event, which included prayers, a short re-count of the events which occurred on September 11, and the ringing of a bell, which was symbolic of New York firefighters returning to their fire stations. 

September 8 – The Chisholm Fire Department was dispatched around 8:00 a.m. to a report of a gas smell behind a downtown business on West Lake Street.  A broken gas line was discovered and shutdown.  Firefighters were on the scene for about an hour.

The Eveleth Fire Department and Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office are continuing their investigation into the August 25th blaze which caused extensive damage to an Eveleth apartment house.  The fire was reported shortly before 2:30 p.m. at 524 Hayes Street.  Firefighters from Eveleth, Fayal Township, Gilbert Mountain Iron and Virginia were dispatched to the fire.  No injuries were reported.  Two families were displaced.  Three cats were rescued.