The Northland FireWire

April 25 – A vacant and soon to be demolished building in downtown Virginia provided an excellent training opportunity for Virginia firefighters. The department was able to use the building for practicing a number of operations. According to Virginia Battalion Chief Kevin Poffs, three main goals were accomplished including: building construction, vertical ventilation, and aerial ladder operations. The former Range Music building was also used by the fire department for other training activities like search and rescue. “We certainly took advantage of the building in order to sharpen our skills,” said Poffs.

April 16 – Damages are put at $25,000, the result of a kitchen fire in the curling club area of the Hibbing Memorial Building. The fire was reported around 9:25 p.m. Arriving firefighters discovered that a fire on the stove was quickly extinguished by the stove’s fire suppression system, but the fire had damaged nearby cabinets and walls. Firefighters were able to contain any remaining fire to the kitchen area only. No injuries were reported. Fire departments from Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, and Virginia were dispatched to the fire through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS.) The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Hibbing Fire Marshal’s Office.

April 15- A 51 year old Britt man is in custody in connection with a house fire in the Britt area. Four fire departments (Pike-Sandy-Britt, Mountain Iron, Cook, Embarrass) were dispatched to the fire around 12:15 in the 8600 block of Donnywood Circle. Firefighters contained the fire to a bedroom area, although the rest of the house had extensive smoke damage. No one was home at the time and no injuries were reported, however three cats perished in the blaze. St. Louis County Sheriff’s officials said in a news release that the homeowner was walking on a nearby road when he was spotted and questioned by a deputy sheriff who was responding to the fire. During the investigation, the homeowner reportedly made remarks related to the fire and was then was arrested for arson. He is being held in the St. Louis County Jail in Virginia and formal charges are pending. The Virginia Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department are continuing their investigation into the incident.

April 15 – Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, and Virginia firefighters were dispatched this morning to a reported structure fire at a Hibbing apartment house. The fire was reported around 11:00 a.m. in the 2100 block of 2nd Avenue West. Hibbing Fire officials told The Northland Fire Wire that very minor damage occurred and no injuries were reported. The fire appeared to be electrical in nature.

March 29 – Five Iron Range fire departments (Eveleth, Fayal Township, Gilbert, Virginia, Mountain Iron) were dispatched this afternoon to a report of fire and smoke coming from the roof of a house in Eveleth. The fire was reported shortly after 3:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Summit Street. A man who had been in the house at the time was safely evacuated by arriving law enforcement officers. Firefighters contained the fire to the attic area. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation with assistance from the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Eveleth Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the fire scene.

March 19 – Firefighters from five Iron Range fire departments battled a fire today at Side Lake Liquor located on St. Louis County Highway 5 in French Township, north of Chisholm. The fire was reported around 7:15 a.m. Arriving firefighters found smoke and flames coming from the back of the structure. Fire departments on the scene included: French Township, Chisholm, Bearville, Hibbing, and Evergreen. At the time of this report, no injuries have been reported.

March 15-A late afternoon fire caused extensive damage to a house in Mountain Iron. The Mountain Iron, Virginia, Fayal, and Pike-Sandy-Britt fire departments were dispatched around 3:00 p.m. to the 5400 block of Bluebell Avenue. Flames and heavy smoke were seen as crews first arrived. No one was home at the time. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.