April 3 – Virginia, Eveleth, and Mountain Iron firefighters battled a house fire late this afternoon in Virginia’s Northside area. The fire was reported around 5:15 p.m. in the 600 block of 15th Street North. It appears the fire started in the back porch of the house and spread to the porch roof and part of the attic area. The fire was quickly knocked down and firefighters checked for further fire spread. No injuries were reported. The Hibbing Fire Department was also dispatched to the call as part of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), but the department’s aerial ladder and crew were turned back. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office.

April 1 – Virginia fire officials report that a sprinkler contained a cooking fire in a Virginia public housing building last weekend. The incident was reported on Sunday, March 28, around 1:15 p.m. at Ivy Manor, 201 5th Avenue North. A tenant met arriving firefighters outside the building and said he had a cooking fire that was extinguished by a sprinkler. The sprinkler save was confirmed by the fire department. No injuries were reported and one tenant was displaced. This is the third sprinkler save in two years at the Ivy Manor Complex. The building was retrofitted with sprinklers in January, 2017 as part of a multi-million dollar renovation project.

April 1 – Rossi Gangl is the new Hibbing Fire Marshal. Gangl is a seven year member of the department and had previously served as an engineer/paramedic. She began her new position on Monday, March 29. Gangl recently assisted Virginia Fire Marshal Chris Clark and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office in the investigation of the 202 Apartment Building fire in Virginia. Hibbing Fire Chief Erik Jankila told The Northland Fire Wire that he has high hopes for Gangl. “Rossi will be a great Fire Marshal. She shows the enthusiasm and drive that will bring her through the credentialing process,” said Jankila. “She has already completed many of the required educational pieces of her job and she did this on her own prior to being promoted. In addition, over the years, she worked with our previous Fire Marshal Bryan Fagerstrom. Her well rounded experience will help her and the fire department carry on the strong foundation that Bryan left us with.” Gangl will continue to serve as a firefighter/paramedic when the situation warrants it.

March 22 – An explosion and fire destroyed a garage in West Eveleth this morning. The Eveleth, Fayal Township, Mountain Iron, and Virginia fire departments were dispatched shortly after 7:30 a.m. to the 300 block of 17th Avenue West. Arriving crews found one garage destroyed with fire spreading to another garage and nearby shed. One person was transported by the Eveleth Ambulance, with Virginia paramedics on board, to a local hospital with burns. Firefighters immediately went on a defensive fire attack by using at least two ground master streams to keep the fire from spreading. The blaze was so intense that a large nearby pine tree burst into flames. No other injuries were reported. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

March 20 – A late morning fire destroyed a home in Clinton Township. The fire was reported around 11:15 a.m. in the 4100 block of Peary Road. A large part of the house was already engulfed in flames when Clinton firefighters arrived. Clinton Fire Chief Jim Theodore immediately radioed for resources from the Cherry, McDavitt, and Fayal Township fire departments. The fire spread through the entire house and even into the basement area. No injuries were reported. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office has been called in to investigate the cause of the fire.

February 5 – Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, and Hibbing firefighters were dispatched around 4:30 this afternoon to a report of an apartment house fire in the 600 block of 6th Street South. The fire was contained to a small area of an outside wall. No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.

February 28 – A fast moving fire caused extensive damage to an apartment building in downtown Virginia. The fire was reported around 10:00 a.m. in the 200 block of 3rd Avenue North. Heavy fire and smoke were spotted at the back of the building, which is within a block of the Virginia firehall. The fire quickly spread through the second floor and attic area of the building. A woman occupant was rescued by law enforcement officers and firefighters when the fire cut off her escape route. The nine occupants were displaced and two cats were rescued. Five firefighters received minor injuries. The Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross was assisting the displaced residents. Fire departments responding to the fire alarm included: Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth and Hibbing. A second alarm brought in: Fayal, Gilbert, and Pike-Sandy-Britt. The Chisholm Fire Department provided two apparatus, which were stationed at the Virginia firehall in order to provide fire response in the Virginia area. The Eveleth and Hoyt Lakes ambulance services provided medical standby at the height of the fire. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire.

February 25/26 – Four Iron Range fire departments were kept busy Thursday night and Friday morning with two separate house fires in Virginia. The first fire was reported around 10:10 p.m. Thursday in the 800 block of 13th Street North. The fire was contained to the basement area at the back of house. One occupant was evaluated for possible smoke inhalation by Virginia paramedic/firefighters. No injuries were reported. At around 2:40 a.m., another house fire was reported in 100 block of 2nd Street South. Flames and smoke could be seen coming from the small house, with heavy fire on the main floor. All of the occupants were able to safely evacuate the house. No injuries were reported, but the home had extensive damage. In both fires, crews from Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, and Hibbing were dispatched as part the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). The fires are under investigation by the Virginia Fire Marshal’s Office.

February 25 – The Tower, Breitung Township, and Greenwood Township fire departments were paged out this morning to a snowmobile fire at the gas pumps at Vermilion Fuel & Food in Tower. The fire was reported around 10:00 a.m. The owner of the snowmobile did have his clothing catch fire, but he was not injured. The snowmobile was a complete loss. Photos provided by The Timberjay newspaper.

February 23 – A garage near Nashwauk was destroyed by fire this morning. The blaze was reported around 9:15 a.m. in the 39000 block of Itasca County Road 336. The Balsam Township and Nashwauk fire departments responded. The Nashwauk Ambulance Service was also on the scene to provide medical standby. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The garage was heated by a wood burning stove.