The Embarrass Region Volunteer Fire Department is $3,000 richer, thanks to a grant from the AgStar Fund for Rural America. The funds will be used to install electrical service in the department’s storage building. The grant was given as part of the Emergency Response Equipment Grant Program, which supports rural areas by funding emergency response equipment for volunteer fire, rescue or ambulance departments. This year, AgStar increased the amount awarded through the program with 59 volunteer fire, rescue and ambulance squads receiving grants totaling $165,506.
AgStar Financial Services, ACA, is headquartered in Mankato and employs more than 600 full-time team members. The company is part of the national Farm Credit System and has a public missions to serve 69 counties in Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The company has expertise in the corn, soybean, swine, dairy and bio-energy industries.
AgStar announces grant to Embarrass Region Volunteer Fire Department
Cherry FD receives AFG award
September 12-The Cherry Fire Department is receiving an Assistance to Firefighters Grant(AFG) in the amount of $39,045. The announcement is from the Department of Homeland Security. The funding is for Operations and Safety.
Twelve departments battle apartment building blaze in West Eveleth
September 11-Firefighters from 12 Iron Range fire departments battled a morning blaze at the Countryside Estates apartment complex in West Eveleth. The fire was reported just before 8:30 a.m. in the Spruce Building. Arriving firefighters saw smoke and flames coming from a second floor apartment. Several apartments inside the building received extensive damage. Twenty four people were displaced by the fire. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. Departments involved in fighting the fire included: Eveleth, Virginia, Mountain Iron, Fayal Township, Gilbert, Cherry, Clinton, Pike-Sandy-Britt, Kinney-Great Scott, Central Lakes, Hibbing, and the U.S.Steel Fire Brigade at MINNTAC.
New Deputy State Fire Marshal named for Northeastern Minnesota
It’s official! Northeastern Minnesota has a new Deputy State Fire Marshal. 20 year law enforcement veteran Rich Sellman was recently named to the position by Minnesota State Fire Marshal Bruce West. In addition to his many years in law enforcement, Sellman is a member of the Chisholm Fire Department and Chisholm Ambulance Service. “We’re very proud of Rich and his new position,” said Chisholm Fire Chief Bob Brown. “He is dedicated, hardworking and a perfect fit for the job!” Sellman takes over for Jim Iammatteo, who was promoted to Chief Investigator for the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. Sellman is now undergoing additional training and will be in the field in the very near future.
Defining Arson By Hibbing Fire Marshal Bryan Fagerstrom
From time to time, you hear about arson in the news. Most people think of arson when someone burns down his or her home for profit. While this would definitely fall under the category of arson, arson is a much broader crime than many people know.
Arson is broken down into several categories ranging from 1st Degree Arson, where a structure is deliberately damaged or destroyed by fire or explosion(punishable up to 20 years in prison and up to a $20,000fine) to 5th degree arson which is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in prison and up to a $1,000 fine. There is also wildfire arson, which is the intentional burning of the land of another, which contains timber, underbrush, GRASS or other vegetation and is punishable up to five years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.
Springtime also marks the state of the grass fire season. Many of these grass fires are intentionally set and would be considered arson. I want to caution people that above and beyond the legal consequences, there are very serious risks of personal injury and unintended secondary results. Grass fires can spread rapidly from a small contained fire and cause real damage to structures which are in the path of running grass fire. Setting a grass fire is not something to play around with.
Another arson fire we run into, particularly in the summer months, are dumpster fires. Many of these fires are cause juveniles “having fun” late at night. Third degree arson, which is punishable by up to five years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, is defined as causing damage by fire to property valued over $300 and not more than $1,000. Many of the dumpsters and garbage cans destroyed during these fires fall into this category. Is “having fun” worth being charged with this offense? Also, many of these fires start secondary fires to the adjacent structure. Many of these buildings are in downtown buildings and pose a serious risk to occupants, not to mention the penalty would likely be escalated to first degree arson if the building is occupied.
So, my take on all of this is: please help educate our youth about the seriousness of arson and the damage it can cause. Arson is not something to play around with and carries very steep penalties. I want all our firefighters to go home to their families. Risking lives for an intentionally set fire is just plain unacceptable.
Virginia porch fire under investigation
July 27- The Virginia Fire Department and local law enforcement officials continue to investigate an early morning porch fire. The fire was reported around 6:00 a.m. at 309 1/2 6th Avenue North. The fire caused about $15,000 in damage. The Mountain Iron and Eveleth fire departments were also dispatched.
Bovey Fire Department receives AFG award
The Bovey Fire Department has received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $78,880. The award is Operations and Safety. The grant to Bovey was announced on July 25.
Fire in Central Lakes area destroys garage/pole barn
July 14 -Firefighters from Central Lakes, Makinen, Fayal, Eveleth and Ellsburg were dispatched this morning to a garage/’pole barn fire in the 3300 block of U.S. Highway 53 in the Central Lakes area, south of Eveleth. The fire was reported before 6:30 a.m. Arriving crews found the structure engulfed in flames. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Lakeland Fire Department receives AFG award
The Lakeland Fire Department, which is located south of Biwabik, has received a $161,500 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Department of Homeland Security. The funding will be used to purchase a wildland fire apparatus.
Fire destroys United Taconite production truck at Eveleth area mine
July 6 – A late afternoon fire at United Taconite Thunderbird Mine has destroyed one of the mine’s large production trucks. The fire was reported around 5:45 p.m. Firefighters from Eveleth, Virginia, Fayal Township, Clinton, Mountain Iron, Biwabik Township, Central Lakes and U.S. Steel battled the large fire. Heavy black smoke could be seen for many miles, prompting several calls to the St. Louis County Emergency Communications Center. It’s not known if there were any injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
