August 23 – The Lakewood and Biwabik fire departments are in line to receive funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The awards were announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Biwabik will be getting $49,904.76 and Lakewood is receiving $145,333.33. Both grants are for Operations and Safety.

August 23- Around 30 fire departments from throughout the Arrowhead Region are part of the ground battle in the Greenwood Fire near Isabella. The departments are providing a vital role in structure protection. The blaze is also being fought by a variety of aircraft.

Jacob “Jake” Keehl, a five year veteran of the Virginia Fire Department, has been named as the department’s new fire marshal. Keehl is a firefighter/paramedic, engineer, and a member of the Arrowhead Urban Search and Rescue Team. He succeeds Chris Clark, who recently joined the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office as an investigator.

August 2 – The Gilbert Fire Department, in cooperation with Lifelink III, hosted a landing zone training session this evening. The training included classroom and hands-on training. Over a dozen Gilbert firefighters and members of the Gilbert First Responders took part. A highlight was when the Lifelink 6 medical helicopter, based at the Range Regional Airport in Hibbing, landed and later took off from the Gilbert ball field.

If you’re interested in learning more about vehicle extrication, here’s a great training opportunity for you. Please make your RSVP today.

July 31 – The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Hibbing Fire Marshal are investigating the cause of this morning’s house fire in Hibbing. The blaze was reported around 5:10 a.m. in the 2300 block of Fourth Avenue East. Hibbing Fire Chief Erik Jankila told The Northland Fire Wire that the house was extensively damaged. No injuries were reported. Four Iron Range fire departments responded to the blaze including: Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, and Virginia.

Virginia Fire Marshal Chris Clark has joined the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office as an investigator. Clark had been with the Virginia Fire Department for around 12 years, He was instrumental in promoting fire prevention in the community along with fire cause and determination. Clark started his position with the State Fire Marshal’s Office at the beginning of August.

July 16 – An early afternoon fire destroyed the main lodge at Camp Sigel near Biwabik. The blaze was reported around 12:45 p.m. Arriving firefighters found the building engulfed in flames with the fire spreading into the nearby forest. The Minnesota DNR brought in a helicopter and a wildland firefighting crew from New Jersey to contain the wildland fire while structural firefighters from multiple Iron Range fire departments worked to extinguish the remains of the lodge building. A nearby cabin had damage to its siding. No injuries were reported as crews fought the blaze in the extreme heat. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Fire departments on the scene included: Biwabik Township, Biwabik, Lakeland, Fayal, Aurora, and Palo. The Biwabik Ambulance Service provided medical standby and firefighter rehab.

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.

July 12 – Members of the Cook Fire Department trained this evening at the Homestead Apartments in Cook. The training including aerial ladder and engine company operations. The training session was conducted in cooperation with the Minnesota Public Safety Group.