Northern Minnesota's Fire & Rescue Journal
December 11 – A home in Grand Lake Township, north of Duluth, is considered a total loss after a fire this evening. The fire was reported around 8:00 P.M. in the 5900 block of Sunny Lane. One dog perished in the fire. Departments on the scene included: Grand Lake, Canosia, Hermantown, Solway, and the Minnesota Air National Guard. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, a space heater in a bathroom was the cause of the fire.
December 9- Cook firefighters were dispatched this afternoon to a camper trailer fire in Beatty Township near Cook. The fire was reported around 2:00 P.M. in the 9400 block of the East Olson Road. When firefighters arrived, the 40 foot-5th wheeler was engulfed in flames. The camper was considered a total loss. No injuries were reported. The Pike-Sandy-Britt Fire Department was also dispatched, but cancelled while enroute.
Ice has formed on many of the area lakes and rivers. Here’s a good reminder from the Minnesota DNR about ice thickness.
December 2 – Three Floodwood area fire departments (Floodwood, Cromwell, Arrowhead) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources responded tonight to a barn fire in Floodwood Township. The balze was reported around 6:10 in the 4800 block of State Highway 73. The barn was a total loss and a number of chickens perished. No human injuries were reported. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, the cause of the fire is unknown, but foul play is not suspected.
December 5 – Five fire departments (Orr, Buyck, Crane Lake, Cook, Bois Forte) battled a pole barn fire this morning in Willow Valley Township. The fire was called in around 8:00 A.M. in the 10700 block of the Willow River Road. Firefighters contained the blaze to the interior of the building. No injuries were reported. The Cook Ambulance Service provided medical standby and the cause is under investigation. Submitted photos.
November 27 – Chisholm firefighters were dispatched late last night to a house fire in Chisholm. The fire was reported around 11:45 P.M. in the 200 block of Central Avenue South. Chisholm crews quickly contained the fire to the attic area of the two story house. No injuries were reported. The Hibbing, Keewatin, and French Township fire departments were also dispatched, but they were cancelled while enroute to the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation
November 25 – An early morning fire destroyed an apartment building in the Britt area north of Virginia. The blaze was reported around 12:00 A.M. in the 8400 block of the Nelson Road. The building, which had four apartments, was engulfed in flames when the first firefighters arrived. One occupant was treated on the scene by the Virginia Ambulance Service for smoke inhalation. No other injuries were reported. Fire departments on the scene included: Pike-Sandy-Britt, Mountain Iron, Virginia, Cook, Embarrass, Vermilion Lake, and Kinney-Great Scott. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, the fire was caused by a candle in a bedroom, although the fire remains under investigation by the sheriff’s department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting at least one occupant who was displaced by the fire.
November 25 – A late morning fire in Eveleth caused extensive damage to a garage in the 800 block of Summit Street. The fire was reported around 11:00 A.M. Firefighters contained most of the blaze to the interior of the structure. No injuries were reported. The Eveleth, Fayal, Mountain Iron, Gilbert, and Virginia fire departments responded while the Eveleth Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene. The Eveleth and Gilbert police departments assisted in traffic control. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
November 23 – One man died and two Virginia police officers were injured, the result of an early morning garage apartment fire in Virginia. According to the Virginia Police Department, officers were called to the 100 block of 2nd Street North shortly before 5:00 A.M. after getting a report of a man threatening suicide and burning down a building. The officers attempted to make contact with the man but discovered that a garage apartment in the alley in the 100 block of 1st Street North was on fire with the man still inside. The police officers tried to persuade the man to leave,but were unsuccessful and the apartment became engulfed in heavy fire and smoke. Two Virginia police officers were transported by ambulance to the Virginia hospital. One officer suffered severe burns to multiple parts of his body while the other officer was treated for smoke inhalation and later released. The Virginia, Eveleth, Fayal Township, Gilbert, and Mountain Iron fire departments responded to the blaze while the Eveleth Ambulance provided medical standby and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department assisted in securing the fire scene. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.
November 20 – The Clinton Fire Department and EMS received quite a donation from Anheuser-Bush, one of the country’s largest brewers. The department received 2,352 cans of emergency drinking water. The huge pallet of cans was unloaded at the Clinton firehall by C&L Distributing directly from the Fort Collins, Colorado brewery. The water will help to keep firefighters hydrated during long incidents such as wildfires, structure fires, and other emergencies. ”This generous donation will significantly enhance our emergency response capabilities,” said Clinton Fire Captain Eric Monson. The water was donated by Anheuser-Busch through a partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). Photos provided by Clinton Fire Department Photographer Ashley Monson.
