September 9 – The Bovey Fire Department has received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $75,530. The announcement is from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding will be used for Operations and Safety.

Former McDavitt Fire Chief Gail Lanyk was recently named Firefighter of the Year by the Minnesota State Fire Department Association(MSFDA). The award took place during the organization’s annual meeting in St. Cloud. Chief Lanyk was honored for her 42 years of dedicated service to the McDavitt Fire Department, with 16 of those years as fire chief. In writing her nomination for the award, McDavitt Fire Chief Stan Sokoloski praised Lanyk for her work as not only a firefighter, but a fire instructor. “She is willing and teaches anyone firefighting,” said Sokoloski. “Our department has accomplished much thru Gail Lanyk’s professionalism and outstanding leadership and she has shown the community what a fire department can do for the community.” Chief Lanyk started the Junior Firefighter Program with three individuals. Two of the junior firefighters have remained with the department and one is attending fire school to make firefighting her career. Chief Lanyk is a member of the St. Louis County Radio User Board and an active member of the Arrowhead EMS Association.
Editor’s Note: Gail Lanyk represents what being a true professional is all about. Her dedication is second to none and she is well deserving of this award. Congratulations Gail!

The Clinton Fire Department has received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $175,143. The money will be used for Operations and Safety. The announcement was made April 24 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

February 18 – Fifty seven year old Randy Hiti, a 26 year member of the Rice Lake Fire Department, passed away this evening while responding to a medical emergency call. Hiti was found unresponsive in his garage and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Since he was responding to a call at the time, his passing is considered a Line Of Duty Death (LODD). According to fellow firefighters, Hiti was an extremely active member of the department and hardly ever missed a call. He died while doing something that he absolutely loved, and that was being a first responder and firefighter.
Visitation is set for 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Duluth, 4230 St. John’s Avenue. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. A procession of fire apparatus is planned from the Dougherty Funeral Home(600 East 2nd Street, Duluth) to the church. Assembly of fire personnel and apparatus will begin at 8:00 a.m.

Editor’s note: Randy was thoroughly dedicated to the Rice Lake Fire Department. Whenever I talked with him, his first words were about the fire department and how much he enjoyed being part of the organization. His level of dedication and caring for the fire service will be missed by his department, his brother and sister firefighters and the entire Lakehead fire organization. Let his passing serve as a reminder that our profession needs more dedicated people like him and in Randy’s name, let’s try to recruit more men and women who will step into his boots and carry the EMS and fire service forward.

January 4 – Hibbing, Chisholm and Keewatin firefighters were dispatched around 5:45 p.m. this evening to a report of smoke in the Mann Theatre building in Hibbing. Firefighters discovered that the minor smoke problem appeared to be an electric motor in an HVAC unit. The theatre was in operation at the time. Crews were on the scene for less than 45 minutes.

It’s now official! Virginia firefighter/paramedic Chris Clark has been named Fire Marshal. Clark had been Interim Fire Marshal for a number of months before the city finally made the title permanent. Clark is a frequent contributor to The Northland Fire Wire website and the Friends of The Northland FireWire Facebook page. Congratulations, Chris!

Virginia Fire Marshal Chris Clark

With the two recent Carbon Monoxide fatalities in Rice Lake Township, north of Duluth; the Virginia Fire Department, Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office are providing this information about Carbon Monoxide and ways to protect you and your family against this silent killer.

Safety Tips
1. Have your home heating systems(including chimneys and vents) inspected and serviced every year by a training service technician.
2. Never use portable generators inside homes or garages, even if doors and windows are open. Use generators outside only, far away from the home.
3. Never bring a charcoal grill into the house4 for heating or cooking. Do not barbecue in the garage.
4. Never use a gas range or oven for heating.
5. Open the fireplace damper before lighting a fire and keep it open until the ashes are cool. An open damper may help prevent build-up of poisonous gases inside the home.
6. Install battery operated CO alarms or CO alarms with battery backup in your home outside separate sleeping areas.
7. Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you suspect CO poisoning, get outside to fresh air immediately, and then call 911.

The Symptoms of CO Poisoning
Because CO is odorless, colorless, and otherwise undetectable to the human senses, people may not know that they are being exposed. The initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning are similar to the flu(but without the fever). They include:
1. Headache
2. Fatigue
3. Shortness of breath
4. Nausea
5. Dizziness
High level CO poisoning results in progressively more severe symptoms, including:
1. Mental Confusion
2. Vomiting
3. Loss of muscle coordination
4. Loss of consciousness
5. Ultimately death

Former Virginia Fire Chief Dan L’Allier has a lot of great things to say about his time in Virginia. L’Allier joined the department in 2006 and rose up through the ranks to become Fire Chief in 2011. He recently left Virginia where he is now the Deputy Public Safety Director in Lino Lakes. In his new position, L’Allier will be in charge of setting up the city’s new fire department. “The accomplishments and achievements that came forth in Virginia during my tenure as Fire Chief are a tribute to my family, my staff and the mayor and Virginia city council,” said L’Allier. “With their patience and support, we really made some great things happen.” Perhaps one of the biggest changes was moving the ambulance license from the Virginia Regional Medical Center to the fire department. “The move enabled us to generate revenue which led to new ambulances and improved equipment. We went from three ambulances to six and we were also able to increase our staffing, which will soon be 29. This in itself was pretty major,” added L’Allier. The Virginia Department also increased its fire suppression operations by adding an additional engine and going with 5″ LDH. Other improvements included four gas monitors, mobile data computers in the rigs, a second set of rescue tools and electronic patient care reports and rig checks. “We moved the department into the electronic age and we just kept going.” The Virginia Fire Department would also become part of the ARMER system and work with neighboring communities to develop a severe weather warning system using a series of state of the art sirens. As this story is being written, the City of Virginia will be installing 60 video cameras, which will provide a whole new level of protection to the community. “While this project is somewhat controversial,” stated L’Allier. “In the end it will be a deterrent to various crimes like vandalism, burglary and even violent situations. Plus, it will aid us in that we will have a first hand view of an accident or fire. This will be a good tool for us and for public safety.”
L’Allier said his decision to leave Virginia was extremely difficult, but in the end was based on his family. “We are closer to our family members and with three young children, Tabitha and me felt it would be the best for all of us. It was really a tough decision, but I know it will be a significant and enjoyable challenge.”
In leaving the Virginia Fire Department, L’Allier takes a lot of pride in what occurred during his time there and he foresees a lot more for the department. “The Virginia Fire Department really has the ability to continue to be a very progressive organization. They have some really dynamic people who can lead the department into the future. I’m very proud that I was part of that team and I wish all of them the very best. It was a wonderful experience to be there.”

Former Virginia Fire Chief Dan L’Allier

The Hibbing City Council has appointed Erik Jankila as the city’s new fire chief. Jankila was named to the post following a 4 to 3 vote. The job had been vacant since May when Fire Chief Scott Nehiba retired. Jankila, who started his firefighting career with the Eveleth Paid On-Call Fire Department, told The Northland Fire Wire that he is looking forward to the challenge.