June 28 – The pilot and a flight nurse were killed early Friday morning when the North Memorial air medical helicopter they were in crashed at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport. The victims were identified as Tim McDonald, pilot, and flight nurse Deb Schott. The flight medic, Scott Duda, was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd with unknown injuries, although authorities said he was talking at the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred around 1:00 a.m.  There were no patients aboard the aircraft at the time.  The helicopter was reportedly returning from a call.

June 27-A building in downtown Biwabik was extensively damaged this evening when a car slammed into the building and went through the structure.  The crash was reported around 9:55 p.m. at 400 Main Street.  The driver of the car and a passenger were taken by Biwabik Ambulance to a local hospital with what were believed to be non-life threatening injuries.  Ambulances from Virginia and Biwabik were dispatched to the crash, along with a helicopter from North Memorial Hospital.  The Biwabik, Biwabik Township, and Lakeland fire departments were also on the scene.  The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Gilbert Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol.

June 22-A late afternoon fire destroyed a vacant house in Vermilion Lake Township and damaged  a nearby former trailer house.  The blaze was reported around 4:45 p.m. on the Wiseman Road. The house was already engulfed in flames when crews arrived.  The Vermilion Lake, Pike-Sandy-Britt, Embarrass, and Tower fire departments were dispatched to the fire.  No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.

June 21-Firefighters from Hibbing, Chisholm and Keewatin were dispatched to a house fire in 1100 block of 16th Avenue East in Hibbing.  The fire was reported around 12:10 p.m. and apparently started in the basement and spread to the first floor of the house.  No one was home at the time, but two cats and a dog perished in the blaze.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

June 8 – Seven Iron Range fire departments were dispatched Saturday evening to a house fire in Clinton Township.  The fire was reported around 7:10 p.m. in the 4000 block of Macon Road.  The occupants were able to get out safely and no injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.  The State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting in determining the cause of the fire.  Departments on the scene included: Clinton, Cherry, McDavitt, Fayal, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, and Hibbing.

June 8 – Firefighters from several Iron Range fire departments took part in regional training today in Biwabik Township.  The training dealt with such topics as: water supply, hose lays, and pump operations.  Departments participating included: Biwabik Township, McKinley, Eveleth, and Virginia. 

June 2 – Gilbert, Eveleth, and Fayal Township firefighters were dispatched this afternoon to a report of smoke near and in the Anthem, Inc. building in Gilbert.  The incident was reported shortly before 4:00 p.m.  After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the smoke came from a nearby outside fire.  Crews were on the scene for less than hour.

June 2 – Firefighters from Aurora, Palo, and Lakeland, along with crews from the Minnesota DNR and US Forest Service battled a wildland fire this afternoon in the Palo area, near Aurora.  The fire, which consumed 17 to 20 acres, was along the Trigstad Road.  The firefighting effort involved tracked vehicles and a helicopter. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department shut down the road while fire operations were underway. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

May 25 – The Virginia and Hibbing fire departments participated today in the funeral for WWII veteran Dante Tini of Virginia.  Tini was with the battleship Oklahoma during the Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7, 1941 and was killed in action.  His remains were identified last year through DNA testing.  Tini’s funeral included services at the Holy Spirit Church in Virginia, along with a procession from the church through downtown Virginia to Calvary Cemetery for full military honors, along with a flyover by two jets from the 148th Minnesota Air National Guard.

Immediate openings available for G4S Security.  Looking for qualified applicants with Fire I and II as well as EMR.  Starting pay is $19.40 per hour. For more information, call 218-749-7347 and ask for Josh or Jake.