November 12 – Fire departments from across the Iron Range battled a major fire in downtown Eveleth today. The fire was reported around 5:35 A.M. at an apartment building in the 300 block of Grant Avenue. Flames and heavy smoke were seen coming from the second story at the back of the building, located right next to Johnny D’s Bar. At the height of the blaze, aerial ladders from Gilbert, Virginia, and Biwabik were put into operation. The firefighting operation taxed the city’s water supply so much that water from nearby communities had to be brought in by water tenders. Departments on the scene included: Eveleth, Fayal, Gilbert, Mountain Iron, Virginia, Clinton, Biwabik, Makinen, Pike-Sandy-Britt, Colvin Township, Cook, Palo, McDavitt, Aurora, Hoyt Lakes and Lakeland. The Minnesota Air National Guard 148th Fire Department provided an air supply system to fill air bottles. The Eveleth Ambulance Service provided medical standby. No injuries were reported. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the blaze.
