Northern Minnesota's Fire & Rescue Journal
January 20 – Firefighters from four Ely area fire departments (Morse-Fall Lake, Eagles Nest, Ely, Breitung) battled a cabin fire early this morning in Morse Township. The fire was reported around 5:30 in the 3300 block of the Wolf Lake Road. Ted Krueger, Morse-Fall Lake and Eagles Nest fire chief, told The Northland Fire Wire that the cabin was a complete loss. No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation. The temperature at the fire scene was around -40 degrees.
January 14 – The Aurora, Hoyt Lakes, and Palo fire departments were dispatched early this morning to a garage fire in Aurora. The blaze was reported shortly after 4:30 in the 400 block of South 2nd Street West. Initial reports said a garage was fully involved in flames and smoke. The fire then spread to two vehicles and the nearby house. An Aurora fire official told The Northland Fire Wire that the garage, house, and two vehicles were a total loss. No injuries were reported. The Hoyt Lakes Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene while the East Range and Gilbert police departments also assisted along with the Aurora Public Works Department. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
January 9 – A Tower home was destroyed by fire this evening. Multiple fire departments were dispatched to the blaze, located in the 500 block of 3rd Street South. The fire was first reported around 9:10 p.m. Departments dispatched included: Tower, Breitung Township, Greenwood, Vermilion Lake, Eagles Nest, Embarrass, Pike-Sandy-Britt, and Ely. The Tower Ambulance Service provided medical standby at the scene. An excavator was brought in to help extinguish the fire.
January 7 – A trailer home in Clinton Township was destroyed by fire this afternoon. Clinton and Cherry firefighters were dispatched around 12:50 to the Forbes Mobile Home Park. The home was engulfed in heavy flames and smoke when crews arrived. No injuries were reported, but a family dog is unaccounted for. The St Louis County Sheriff’s Department provided traffic control at the scene. The cause is under investigation.
The City of Hibbing and the Hibbing Fire Department are moving ahead with the purchase of a new aerial apparatus. The aerial will be built by Rosenbauer America, located in Wyoming, Minnesota. Hibbing Fire Chief Erik Jankila told The Northland Fire Wire that the cost is estimated around $1.99 million. It will be about two years before the truck is built, which is not considered unusual because of demand and other possible manufacturing delays. The new aerial will replace the department’s current 30 year old ladder truck.
The Silica Volunteer Fire Department, which serves an area south of Hibbing along Minnesota Highway 73, is looking for community minded people who want to join the department. If you’re 18 or older, please consider applying. For more information, contact Jake at 218-262-6501.
January 5 – Firefighters from four fire departments (Colvin Township, Makinen, Palo, Central Lakes) were dispatched around 11:20 this morning to a structure fire in Colvin Township. The fire, in the 2700 block of the Lowe Road, turned out to be a chicken coop. The building is considered a total loss, but all the chickens and ducks managed to survive. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
January 4 – There was a structure fire tonight (Saturday) in Rice Lake. Here’s the official media release from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department.
December 8 – Lakeland, Palo, and Fayal Township firefighters spent this afternoon battling a garage-house fire in the Lakeland area, south of Biwabik. The blaze was reported around 12:40 p.m. in the 4400 block of the Vermilion Trail/County Highway 4. Firefighters contained most of the damage to the garage area, although the house had smoke damage. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
December 13 – Four Iron Range fire departments (Virginia, Eveleth, Mountain Iron, Hibbing) were dispatched around 3:00 this afternoon to a report of a fire at the Copper Nickel Restaurant at the Virginia Golf Course. According to Virginia Deputy Fire Chief Erik Jonassen, a small fire was contained to a storage room. Virginia firefighters were able to ventilate the building. The Eveleth, Mountain Iron and Hibbing departments were cancelled while enroute. The restaurant was able to re-open just in time for a Christmas party. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
