June 16 – A cabin at YMCA Camp Northern Lights near Babbitt was destroyed by an overnight/early morning fire. The Babbitt, Morse-Fall Lake, and Ely fire departments, along with the Babbitt Ambulance Service were dispatched to the camp around 7:10 a.m. The 2,000 square foot cabin, which was vacant, was destroyed. Several nearby cabins were also unoccupied. The Babbitt and Morse-Fall Lake departments remained on the scene while the Ely Fire Department was cancelled while enroute. The Babbitt Ambulance Service provided medical standby. The cause of the blaze is unknown, but according to Babbitt Fire Chief Tony Chamberlin, the fire is not suspicious.

June 13 – Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, and Hibbing fire crews were dispatched this afternoon to a fire at the Uptown Mall, formerly the Thunderbird Mall in Virginia. The fire was reported around 3:30 in a storage area in the south end of the shopping complex. Virginia fire officials told The Northland Fire Wire that the fire was contained by the mall’s sprinkler system. The mall was safely evacuated and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office.

June 8- Firefighters and other emergency personnel today honored Bill Cox, a member of the Bearville Fire Department and Bearville First Responders. The event included a parade of emergency vehicles from Cohasset to Chisholm at the Viking Bar, where Cox once worked as a bartender. Cox passed away on May 11th of this year at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. He was 71 years old.

June 7 – The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called in to investigate the fire which caused extensive damage last night to the Steven Chambers Building in Hoyt Lakes. The fire was reported around 9:15 p.m. The Hoyt Lakes, Aurora, and Palo fire departments responded while the Hoyt Lakes Ambulance provided medical standby at the scene. An official for the Hoyt Lakes fire department said no injuries were reported. The building was built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

May 31- The Eveleth, Fayal, Gilbert, Mountain Iron, Virginia, and Clinton fire departments were dispatched this morning to a house fire in Eveleth. The blaze was reported around 8:50 a.m. in the 900 block of Adams Avenue. A family dog perished in the fire and three firefighters were evaluated and treated for heat exhaustion. No other injuries were reported. The Eveleth and Virginia ambulance services provided medical standby at the scene. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Here’s another great opportunity to help out a local fire department.

May 16 – Gilbert, Eveleth, Fayal, Virginia, and Biwabik firefighters were dispatched late tonight to an apartment building fire in Gilbert. The call came in around 11:50 p.m. in the 200 block of Broadway Street North. A second alarm was called in resulting in the dispatching of the Biwabik Township, Lakeland, and Mountain Iron fire departments. Those departments were cancelled while enroute. The fire was quickly contained to the room and contents in a first floor apartment. Two dogs and a cat were rescued. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

May 16 – The Virginia, Eveleth, Mountain Iron and Hibbing fire departments were dispatched this morning to a report of a possible structure fire in the Midway area of Virginia. The fire was reported around 9:10 a.m. on Merritt Drive. The fire was contained to the stove. The two residents and two dogs were able to safely evacuate the house. No injuries were reported. Virginia and Eveleth firefighters were on the scene for a short time while the Mountain Iron and Hibbing were cancelled while enroute.