June 7 – Firefighters from seven Iron Range fire departments battled a roof fire at the Hibbing Public Utilities steam plant near downtown Hibbing. The fire was reported just before 9:00 p.m. when heavy black smoke was seen coming from the seven story complex. There was a fire on the main floor of the plant, which was extinguished by PUC employees. The working fire was on the roof deck. A large section of the roof insulation and rubber membrane needed to be removed. The fire was declared under control at 10:35 p.m. Damages are estimated at $30,000. No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.

May 28-29 Firefighters from Hibbing and Virginia had an opportunity to work on their skills. These skills could very well save their lives in the event that they have to quickly exit from a burning structure. The training ranged from window escapes to dealing with dangling wires that could trap a firefighter. Equipment from the Cloquet Area Fire District was used for the training exercises.

Hibbing firefighters practice exiting out a window during survival training at the Hibbing Fire Department headquarters building.

Hibbing Battalion Chief Chris Petrack instructs fellow Hibbing firefighters on the techniques of quickly exiting a burning structure.

Fire Training and Education are changing in the Northland. Over the past couple of years, the training efforts of Advanced Minnesota in Virginia and Lake Superior College in Duluth have seen hundreds of firefighters trained and certified at basic, as well as advanced levels of firefighting. While the education is provided by training vendors, the efforts of those completing the courses also deserve recognition. Recognition of many of these efforts have been formally acknowledged through the certification process. Completion of the educational process with third party testing has insured that not only have instructors covered required materials, but students have demonstrated competency in the course objectives. With many of these courses based on industry standards, consistency becomes the norm. Often, many of these courses have seen mutual aid fire departments train together. This training has begun the process of building organizational, as well as personal relationships that translate into improved and safer working conditions when presented with multiple company/departmental operations. The entire Arrowhead Region should give itself a huge pat on the back! You’re developing the culture of a safer, more effective fire service.

The challenge for you now is to continue down that road of training and education. Does learning conclude after Firefighter I and II is complete? I believe your answer would be NO! What is next? What direction is your career going? Even though you serve in a paid on-call status, you certainly are developing a career in the fire service. Do you look forward at the Fire Equipment Operator skills, Fire Instructor/Officer aspirations? How about Public Fire and Life Safety education, rescue skills and training? Are fire prevention and inspection services needed in your community? These and many other topics of fire training present themselves. Where do you fit into the future of your organization? The collective efforts of individuals will help to develop organizational accomplishments.

Funding sources meant to supplement local fire department training budgets for those advanced levels of training have been enhanced with Minnesota Board of Fire Fighter Training and Education reimbursement dollars. FEMA, through grant funding also provides opportunities for training funding. Creative grant writing has also been successful in securing training dollars for mutual aid partners. The training and educational opportunities are out there. You have already demonstrated your dedication and passion for the fire service. Take the next step. Not only will your department benefit, but so will the citizens of the communities you so proudly serve. Good luck!

April 26 – The Hibbing Fire Department was dispatched this morning to a report of a gas smell at the Irongate Mall in Hibbing. The department was paged at 9:39 a.m. and upon arriving at the scene, conducted a thorough search of the mall complex. Those inside the mall were evacuated. Crews discovered that a gas valve inside one of the businesses had inadvertently been left open. The department cleared the mall around 11:00 a.m.

April 1 – Jim Iammatteo of Keewatin has been named Chief Investigator at the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. Iammatteo has been active in fire investigations throughout the Arrowhead Region. He also served as Hibbing Fire Marshal.

March 27 – A house in rural Hibbing was destroyed by fire early this morning.  The fire was reported just before 3:00 a.m. at 10894 County Highway 92. Arriving firefighters found flames already coming from the one and a half story house.  The house was unoccupied at the time. Fire crews from Chisholm, Cherry, and Mountain Iron assisted Hibbing firefighters at the scene while the Virginia EMS and Fire Department provided emergency medical coverage.  No injuries were reported.  The house is being termed a total loss with damages estimated around $65,000.  The cause of the fire remains under  investigation.

Photo: Hibbing Fire Department

March 26 – Several Iron Range fire departments were dispatched to a report of a house fire in the south side area of Virginia.  The fire was reported around 6:45 p.m. in the 200 block of 4th Street South.  Virginia firefighters quickly knocked down the fire  and ventilated the large house.  The cause of the fire is under investigation

March 17 – The former Staver Foundry, which stood vacant for a number years, was extensively damaged by fire yesterday afternoon.  The call came in at 2:40 p.m. The building is located along 1st Avenue West and 10th Street South.  At the height of the fire, eight area fire departments were called in while the Eveleth and Hibbing ambulance services assisted with EMS calls. A backhoe was also brought in to assist in the firefighting effort.   Investigators from the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Virginia Fire Department went through the remains of the building today in an effort to determine a cause.  There were no reports of any injuries.  The building was considered a total loss.

The Itasca County Sheriff’s Department, Grand Rapids Fire Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office are continuing the investigation into the March 2nd mobile home fire that claimed the life of a three year old boy.  According to the Itasca County Sheriff’s Department, the Grand Rapids and Cohasset fire departments were dispatched at 9:25 p.m. to a mobile home fire at 20257 Wendigo Road in Harris Township, which is just south of Grand Rapids.  The person who called 911 said the structure was totally involved and that a small child was still in the residence.  A 38 year old man, 24 year old woman and a child were taken to the Grand Itasca Medical Center for treatment of smoke inhalation and other fire related injuries.  Firefighters later recovered the remains of the victim inside the residence.

March 6 – Chisholm firefighters, with mutual aid from Hibbing and Buhl, battled a house fire at 331 NW 10th Street in Chisholm.  The fire was reported at 7:10 p.m.  The Chisholm Fire Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office are investigating the cause of the fire.