Crews battle roof fire at United Taconite

July 15 – A dozen fire departments from across the Iron Range of northeastern Minnesota battled a roof fire this afternoon and early evening at the United Taconite Fairlane Plant in Forbes. The fire was reported shortly before 3:30 p.m. Virginia Fire Chief Allen Lewis said the fire burned about 1,000 square feet of the rubber lined roof on top of the pelletizer building. No serious injuries were reported, although several firefighters were treated on the scene for possible heat exhaustion and an eye injury. Production at the taconite operation was not impacted. Fire departments responding to the fire included: Virginia, McDavitt, Eveleth, Cherry, Clinton, Fayal Township, Gilbert, Biwabik, Biwabik Township, Central Lakes, Hibbing, and Ellsburg. The cause of the fire is under investigation.