January 7 – Four people were injured, the result of an early morning house fire in Biwabik Township. The fire was reported around 5:00 a.m. in the 4800 block of the Vermilion Trail. According to a news release from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department, the occupants were awakened when smoke alarms in the house started sounding. All of the residents were able to safely evacuate the house. Ambulances from Biwabik, Hoyt Lakes, and Virginia transported the occupants to medical facilities (two with serious injuries and two with minor injuries). The home and multiple buildings were destroyed. Fire departments responding to the fire included: Biwabik Township, Biwabik, Lakeland, Fayal Township, Gilbert, Palo, Colvin Township, Aurora, and Makinen. The Biwabik Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene. The cause of fire is being investigated by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. Preliminary reports say the fire was not suspicious in nature.
