The Northland Fire Wire remembers and salutes retired Hibbing Fire Captain Steve Gillitzer who unselfishly gave his life on Monday morning while attempting to save his family during a house fire. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for others”-John 15:13.

December 26 – A Chisholm area home received extensive smoke damage as a result of a late afternoon fire. The fire, reported around 4:30, was in the 6900 block of Highway 73. Firefighters from: Chisholm, Evergreen, French Township, Buhl, and Kinney-Great Scott were on the scene. Chisholm Fire Chief Bob Brown said all of the occupants and pets were able to safely leave the residence. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

December 26-Two adults and two children died as a result of an early morning house fire in Hibbing. The blaze was reported shortly after 1:30 at 212 42nd Street East. Arriving Hibbing firefighters rescued four people(two adults and two children) and began CPR on the two children, who were transported by the Chisholm Ambulance Service to the Hibbing hospital. 67 year old Steve Gillitzer and 63 year old Pat Gillitzer were pronounced dead at the scene. Their grandchildren, nine year old Todd Gillitzer and three year old Isaiah Adams were airlifted to trauma centers, where they later died. A third grandchild, Jonathan Gillitzer, who was outside the home when crews arrived, received non life threatening injuries and was taken to the Hibbing hospital. Hibbing fire officials said Gillitzer, a retired Hibbing firefighter, woke up and was able to get Jonathan out of the burning house and then returned to rescue the others. He did not make it out alive.
Firefighters from: Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, Nashwauk, Virginia, Buhl, Clinton Townsip, and Fayal Township were on the scene. The Nashwauk Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Hibbing Fire Marshal’s Office, with assistance from the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. News media reports say smoke alarms were sounding at the time of the fire.

December 3 – The Virginia Fire Department is continuing to investigate the source of a carbon monoxide leak which sent 12 people to the hospital. The incident was reported around 10:10 a.m. at a residence in the 1200 block of 19th Street South in Virginia (Ridgewood area). EMS units from Virginia, Eveleth, and Biwabik were dispatched to the scene. Seven people at the residence were transported to Essentia Health-Virginia, with several later airlifted to other medical facilities. Two Virginia paramedic/firefighters, two Virginia police officers, and a St. Louis County Deputy Sheriff were also evaluated for CO exposure.

The McKinley Fire Department, in cooperation with the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross, began installing free smoke alarms this week in the homes of city residents. According to McKinley Assistant Fire Chief Peter Makowski, residents were notified in October via utility bills and a local newspaper story about the program. “We discovered that those who contacted us had no smoke alarms or alarms that were out of date,” said Makowski. Firefighters Tom Lautigar and Dave Peterson installed over 20 alarms in a number of residents. The American Red Cross provided the alarms, while the McKinley Fire Department handled the installation. According to Makowski, the department hopes to wrap up the program within the next week.

McKinley firefighters Tom Lautigar and Dave Peterson install a smoke detector in a McKinley home.

November 20-Emergency personnel from several Iron Range EMS and fire departments responded to a report that six people were overcome by carbon monoxide at a downtown Buhl business. The incident was reported after 9:00 a.m. at Billy’s Bar and Cafe on State Street. Five people were transported to hospitals in Virginia and Hibbing whilw one person was treated at the scene. Four of the victims were living in an apartment attached to the bar. The cause of the carbon monoxide was believed to be a faulty heating system. Ambulances from Buhl, Chisholm, Hibbing, and Virgnia were on the scene. According to the Buhl Fire Chief, all of the victims were expected to make a full recovery.

November 10 – An early morning fire destroyed a Chisholm apartment building and displaced a number of tenants. The fire was reported around 2:45 a.m. at 126 First Street Southwest. Arriving Chisholm police officers were able to safely evacuate all of the residents. “When we arrived, we knew this was going to be a defensive attack,” said Chisholm Fire Chief Bob Brown. The Hibbing Fire Department provided an aerial ladder, which was critical in the defensive fire attack. Firefighters from Buhl and French Township were also on the scene. A cat and dog were rescued. The American Red Cross has been called in to assist the residents. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting in investigating the cause of the fire.

The Virginia Fire Department has released the cause of the October 27th fire at the Rotary Apartments in Virginia. According to Virginia Fire Marshal Chris Clark, the fire which extensively damaged a third floor apartment started from carelessly discarded smoking materials. No injuries were reported. The fire was fought by firefighters from Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, and Hibbing. “This could have been a tragedy,” said Clark.

September 23 – EMS, fire, rescue, and law enforcement personnel from several agencies participated in a simulated Mass Casually Incident (MCI) at the Southside Park in Eveleth. The exercise involved nearly 30 patients in a SUV-bus crash. Drill Coordinator Caitlin Korpi of the Eveleth Ambulance Service said she was very pleased with the overall operation.