July 3 – The Virginia Fire Marshal and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of today’s vehicle fire inside the Virginia Police Department garage, located in the Virginia City Hall complex in the 300 block of 1st Street South. The fire was reported around 11:20 a.m. Arriving Virginia firefighters found one police vehicle engulfed in flames with the fire spreading to another police vehicle. The police department and city hall complex were evacuated and no injuries were reported. The two vehicles are a total loss and there are varying amounts of smoke damage in city hall. Fire departments responding to the blaze included: Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Gilbert, Fayal Township and Pike-Sandy-Britt. The Hibbing Fire Department was also dispatched, but was cancelled enroute. Virginia city officials are assessing the damages to the garage and city hall. The fire was fought with outside temperatures in the high 80’s and low 90’s.
