August 16 – A semi tractor trailer carrying Ammonium Nitrate rolled over near the entrance to Hibbing Taconite on St. Louis County Highway 5.  The incident was reported around 8:20 a.m. and required the resources of four area fire departments (Hibbing, Chisholm, French Township and the Hibbing Taconite Fire Brigade).  Hibbing firefighters assessed the damages to the tanker and contained leaking fluids from the semi truck.  It was determined that none of the Ammonium Nitrate (42,000 pounds)was spilled.  The highway was shut down for a number of hours in order to establish a safe zone around the accident.  The driver of the tanker received minor injuries.  The cause of the rollover is under investigation.

Photo: Hibbing Fire Department

The Lakeland Fire Department, which serves an area south of Biwabik, is celebrating 50 years of service.  An Open House is set for this Friday, July 19, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.  A number of activities are planned.  The firehall is located on St. Louis County Highway 4.

July 13 – Firefighters from Pike-Sandy-Britt, Mountain Iron, Vermilion Lake, Embarrass, Cook and Evergreen were dispatched early this morning to a bar fire in the Britt area north of Virginia.  The blaze was reported around 3:00 a.m. at “The Oasis”.  The fire was discovered by the bar’s owner and his family.  They were able to safely evacuate the building.  Arriving crews contained the fire to the basement of the structure.  No injuries were reported.  The cause was determined to be accidential. 

July 7 – Firefighters from Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth, Fayal Township and Gilbert were dispatched to an early morning house fire in the Pillsbury Addition of Virginia.  The fire was called in around 2:30 a.m. at 922 14th Street North.  Arriving firefighters found smoke coming from the two story residence, which was being remodeled at the time.  Most of the damage was contained to the basement.  No injuries were reported.  The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Virginia Fire Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.  It is believed to be accidental.

July 6- The Zion Lutheran Church in Finland was destroyed by a late night fire.  The blaze was reported just before 9:00 p.m. and nearly half a dozen fire departments responded.  No injuries were reported.  The cause was determined to be a lightning strike.

There’s a new member of the Cloquet Area Fire District and she can sniff out and find arsonists!  Her name is “Wish” and along with Arson Investigator Jason Maki, the team will definitely make a difference in cracking down on this serious crime. “Wish”, a Golden Labrador Retriever and Maki, recently completed the five week canine accelerant detection school, which was sponsored by State Fire Insurance and certified by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.  “Wish” is trained to “sniff out” gasoline and other liquid acelerants used by arsonists.  With her keen sense of smell, “Wish” has the ability to pinpoint where the fire may have started.  Obviously, with this attribute, a lot of time is saved in the investigation process. Prior to the use of K-9 teams, fire debris samples had to be submitted to forensic laboratories by investigators.  And, with this method, only a 30 to 40 percent positive result was obtained.  When K-9 teams find a possible origin site and samples are sent to the lab, they often yield an 80 to 90 percent positive result.  Since Arson is one of the most difficult crimes to solve and probably the most difficult to obtain a conviction, K-9 teams like “Wish” and Maki become a very valuable resource for the fire service.

Maki says he sees a definite value in having a K-9 partner.  “She extends my capabilities as an investigator,” he said.  “The scent-discriminating abilities of “Wish” are far better than any equipment we can take to a fire scene when the cause is suspicious.  She will lead me to the location of the accelerant and from there, I can take samples, which can be sent to the state crime labs for analysis.  I know we can definitely make a difference!”  In addition to serving the Cloquet Area Fire District, “Wish” and Maki are also available as a state resource.

Maki gives credit to the State Farm Insurance Companies for funding the canine accelerant detection school and making it available to fire departments and law enforcement agencies across the county.  Since it started in 1993, the program has placed more than 300 dogs in 44 states, three Canadian provinces and the District of Columbia.  “Training a K-9 is a very expensive proposition,” said Maki.  “Having State Farm as a partner in this is very beneficial and the end result will hopefully be a dramatic decrease in arson.”  For arsonists, perhaps they will “Wish” that the Cloquet Area Fire District and the Arrowhead Region did not have such a team!

“Wish” and CAFD Arson Investigator Jason Maki

June 19 – Virginia and Mountain Iron firefighters were dispatched around 9:20 a.m. to a report of a structure fire at the Virginia Public Utilities Steam Plant on 6th Avenue South.  According to Virginia fire officials, a cooling fan had started on fire and was contained by staff on the scene.  Crews were on the scene for about half an hour.  No injuries were reported.

Virginia FD Squad 1 arrives on the scene.

Light smoke is seen coming from the roof of the Virginia Public Utilities Plant.

Firefighters from five fire departments were called to a major fire in downtown Cook during the evening of June 17. The fire was reported around 6:45 p.m. at  114 South River Street.  Two businesses(Gilley’s Naturals and the Dollar Barn) were located in the building, along with several upstairs apartments. No injuries were reported.  The building was a total loss.  The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department investigated the fire, which was determined to have started in Gilley’s Naturals and was accidental in nature.

June 15 – The Eveleth Fire Department, in cooperation with Advanced (Customized Training-Mesabi Range College) and the Cloquet Area Fire District (CAFD), hosted an “On Deck” or Rapid Intervention Team training session on June 12 and June 15.  The course was held at the Eveleth firehall and the Eveleth Public Works facility.  Firefighters from Eveleth, Fayal Township, Mountain Iron, Lakeland and Makinen participated in the training, which included classroom and hands on exercises.  A highlight of the training was the use of the CAFD’s training tower, allowing firefighters to practice a wide range of skills from forcible entry to ladder rescue.  Another key element of the training was the establishment of a Rehab area, which is considered vital in all fire and rescue operations.  For more information on fire training through Advanced, call Fire Program Manager Steve Flaherty at 218-749-7770.

The Virginia Fire Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office are continuing their investigation into a house fire on May 22nd.  The fire was reported around 3:50 p.m. at 801 8th Street South.  Firefighters from Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth and Fayal assisted in fighting the blaze, which started in the basement of the house.  Two family dogs died in the fire.  The fire is not suspicious in nature.   Photo by Mike Zadra for The Northland Fire Wire.