Mobile Crane Destroyed: Damages Estimated Near $1 million
November 23, 2005 — The morning of November 23rd proved to be pretty exciting for three Iron Range fire departments when a large mobile crane caught fire. The fire was reported around 8:30 a.m. on St. Louis County Road 21 in Pike Township. 45 year old Bruce Kraemer of Duluth was driving the 120 ton Grove crane when smoke started coming from the lower engine compartment. Kraemer tried to extinguish the fire, but it quickly spread to the rest of vehicle and then exploded. "It was quite a fire," said Pike-Sandy-Britt firefighter Scott Christopherson. "It was a massive ball of flame!" Firefighters from the Pike-Sandy-Britt, Embarrass and Vermilion Lake fire departments were dispatched to the scene. The crane, owned by Kraemer Construction of Duluth, was considered a total loss. Damages were estimated around $1 million. There were no injuries.
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