The Northland FireWire

April 14 – Fire destroyed a garage this morning in the Donnywood Acres area, north of Virginia. The fire was reported around 9:45 a.m. The garage was engulfed in flames when crews arrived. Departments on the scene included: Pike-Sandy-Britt, Mountain Iron, Virginia, and Cook. The garage is a total loss. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Virginia Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene.

April 7 – An early afternoon fire caused extensive damage to the iconic International Falls Band Shell located in Smokey Bear Park. The fire was reported shortly after 1:00 p.m. Because the structure was made mostly of wood, the fire spread quickly and was difficult to bring under control. Fire crews were on the scene for five hours and according to the International Falls Fire Department, the cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary. The fire remains under investigation by the International Falls Fire Department, International Falls Police Department, and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.

March 27 – Firefighters from three departments (Pike-Sandy-Britt, Cook, Kinney-Great Scott) battled a house fire late this afternoon in the 9500 block of St. Louis County Highway 65 near Lake Leander. The house was engulfed in flames when crews arrived. No one was home at the time. The house was a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation. No injuries were reported.

There was a house fire on the Bois Forte Reservation on March 24. As it turned out, this was a fatal fire involving 66 year old Gordon Adams Jr., who perished in the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bois Forte Police Department.

March 18 – Biwabik, Lakeland, and Gilbert firefighters participated in ice and water rescue training this evening at Embarrass Lake near Biwabik. Photos submitted by the City of Biwabik Fire Department.

March 19 – The Eveleth Police Department announced today that the victim in a fatal trailer house fire in Fayal Township has been identified as 66 year old Raymond Eugene Jarve. The fire was in the 4200 block of Clyde Road on February 14. The Fayal, Eveleth, and Gilbert fire departments were dispatched when the burned down remains of the trailer house were discovered. Jarve’s body was found in trailer debris. According to Eveleth Police, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

March 18- The Hibbing, Chisholm, Keewatin, and Virginia fire departments were dispatched late this evening to a wood stove fire in Hibbing. The fire was reported around 11:10 p.m. in the 11000 block of State Highway 37. A nearby pole building had minor exterior damage. No injuries were reported.