March 1 – Six Duluth area fire departments (Lakewood, Clifton, Normanna, Gnesen, Rice Lake, Air National Guard 148th) were dispatched to a garage fire in Lakewood Township this afternoon. The fire was reported around 12:45 in 2500 block of the Lismore Road. The fire was contained to a piece of equipment inside the three-car detached garage as well as the interior of the building. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The St. Louis County Rescue Squad provided traffic control. Photo courtesy of the Lakewood Fire Department.

March 1 -The Chisholm Fire Department was dispatched early this morning to a report of a structure fire in Chisholm. The fire was reported around 3:10 in the 500 block of 4th Street Northwest. Chisholm Fire Department officials told The Northland Fire Wire that the fire was contained to the porch area. Three cats inside the home were rescued. No injuries were reported. The cause is under investigation. The Hibbing Fire Department was also dispatched, but cancelled later while enroute.

February 29 – A house in Vermilion Lake Township was extensively damaged by fire this afternoon. The blaze was reported around 3:30 P.M. in the 6100 block of the Wahlsten Road. The structure was heavily engulfed in flames when crews arrived. Firefighters from Vermilion Lake, Pike-Sandy-Britt, Embarrass, Tower, Breitung, and the Minnesota DNR were on the scene. The Tower Ambulance provided medical standby while St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department deputies handled traffic control. There have been no reports of injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

February 26- The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office have ruled that Sunday’s fatal house fire in Morse Township was accidental. According to a media release, the fire started near the fireplace inside the residence. An elderly person died in the blaze. Ely. Morse-Fall Lake, Ely, and Babbitt firefighters were dispatched to the 1400 block of Grant-McMahan Boulevard around 1:20 P.M. Arriving firefighters attempted to search for a person who was reportedly inside the house, but were unsuccessful. The person’s body was later discovered in the remains of the burned house. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office is working on the positive identification of the person.

As a public service, The Northland Fire Wire offers FREE want ads to fire departments in the Arrowhead Region of northeastern Minnesota. For more information: nlfirewireeditor@yahoo.com. You can also text us at: 218-749-7600.

Several fire departments in southern St. Louis County were busy battling a structure fire in Gnesen Township this afternoon. Below is a news release from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department.

February 21 – A large machinery shed in Clinton Township was destroyed by fire this morning. The blaze was reported around 9:10 in the 9300 block of the Iron Junction Road. The building was engulfed in flames and smoke when Clinton firefighters first arrived. Several large pieces of farm equipment were destroyed. No injuries were reported. The Clinton, Cherry, Mountain Iron, and Kinney-Great Scott fire departments were on the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.