Public Safety

Semi-Tanker Fire Causes Six-Hour Shutdown of Highway 169 Near Ely

Fire officials figure about 350 gallons were spilled.

Photo: Morris-Hall Fire Chief Ted Krueger ELY, Minn.- Minnesota Highway 169 was shut down for six and a half hours Saturday due to a fire involving a semi tanker truck pulling gas, according to the Northland FireWire. According to a post on the FireWire’s Facebook page, the incident was reported around 2:15 p.m. Morris-Fall Lake Fire Chief Ted Krueger told…

Duluth Police Department Reminds Community to Drive Safe this Weekend

DULUTH, Minn.– With an increased number of motor vehicle accidents every year around the Fourth of July, the Duluth Police Department is telling the community to always be aware when driving, to avoid any accidents. Extra officers will be patrolling the roads this weekend, foot traffic and vehicle traffic are expected to pick up especially around the waterfront this weekend,…

Duluth Fire Department Warns About Dry Conditions and Fireworks

DULUTH, Minn.– It will be a very hot and dry weekend for the holiday but the Duluth Fire Department reminds the community that even though we have had some rain, there is still a high fire danger warning. With fireworks, campfires, and grills expected to be in use all weekend, there is still high potential that if you don’t extinguish…

Duluth Fire Aims to Promote Firework Safety with Chalk It Up Campaign

Officials say every year nearly 100 injuries statewide happen from fireworks, 40%  of which happen to kids.

DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Fire Department is back with a Fourth Of July effort to give families in Duluth a safe and quiet way to experience fireworks this weekend. For the Chalk It Up campaign, people are encouraged to draw fireworks with chalk and send a picture of it to the fire department for a chance to win prizes. Officials…

Uber And Lyft Drivers Disappear In Duluth, While Taxis Make A Comeback

DULUTH, Minn. — If you’ve tried ordering an Uber or Lyft in Duluth recently, you may have noticed the “few drivers available” warning on the apps. It’s a national problem Americans are dealing with after the country has reopened for business, and there’s no telling how much longer it’s going to continue. Some college seniors in Duluth say that when…

Duluth Police Stress Safe, Sober Driving Ahead Of Summer Events

Last month there were 30 recorded DWI incidents in Duluth compared to 17 last May during the pandemic.

DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth Police are urging people to be smart before getting behind the wheel this summer after a drunken driver went airborne in downtown Duluth over the weekend. Just before 3 a.m. Saturday a car speeding in the Pickwick parking lot hit a grassy area and went into the air before crashing into a light pole along the sidewalk….

Duluth Police Arrest Man for DUI After High Speed Crash Near Fitger’s Complex

The vehicle went airborne between the Pickwick and Fitger's complex. No one was injured.

DULUTH, Minn- A 20-year-old male has been arrested for Driving Under the Influence following an early morning crash Saturday. According to a spokesperson with the Duluth Police Department, just before 3:00 a.m. this morning, a Duluth Police officer was on patrol near the 600 block of East Superior Street when he observed a vehicle driving at a high rate of…

Duluth Police, Fire Call 2021 Grandma’s Marathon a Breeze

Due in large part to 2021 changes to Grandma's Marathon, Duluth Police and firefighters say that this year's race was one of the safest in years.

DULUTH, Minn.- Due in large part to 2021 changes to Grandma’s Marathon, Duluth Police and firefighters say that this year’s race was one of the safest in years. Officers tell us there was little to no crime or civil disorder as the smaller crowds of people spread out in Canal and Bayfront were well behaved and excited to get back…

Bayfield Authorities Looking For Driver Of SUV Possibly Involved In Fatal Motorcycle Accident

BAYFIELD CO., Wis. — The Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office needs help finding the driver of an SUV that may have been involved in a fatal motorcycle accident. The collision happened just after 1 p.m. on Thursday on Highway 2 in the Township of Eileen, over in Bayfield County. When first responders arrived, they found the man who had been on…

Duluth Police Share Safety Tips on Driving in Foggy Conditions

Officers say in any type of inclement weather where visibility is low, slow down and make sure your lights are working properly.

DULUTH, Minn.- Local law enforcement is reminding people about driving safely in low visibility. The Duluth Police Department today responded to five car crashes before noon, and while officials don’t know if fog was the only factor, they say it definitely could have contributed. Officers say in any type of inclement weather where visibility is low, slow down and make…

Park Point Residents Launch Operation Slow Motion

DULUTH, Minn.– After an extreme car accident on Park Point in October 2020 almost killed several people, the residents of the point decided it was time for a change, and announced the launching of Operation Slow Motion today. The residents started a neighborhood watch in the January following the accident and 30 volunteers hold signs on the point encouraging traffic…

Duluth Teen Hailed as Hero for Saving Family from House Fire

15-year-old Lizzy Grayhawk awoke to the second story of her home on the 1100 block of East 10th street on fire -- heavy flames coming from a second story window.

DULUTH, Minn.- A Duluth family is lucky to be alive after their house went up in flames, and fire officials are calling the family’s 15-year-old daughter a hero in the fire fight. “You might’ve been scared, but you really were a hero last night,” Duluth Fire Chief Shawn Krizaj said to Lizzy Grayhawk Tuesday. The Grayhawk family all safe and…

Duluth Fire Dept: Rip Currents ‘can quite easily develop’ While Swimming

There was not a red flag rip current warning in effect at the time, so officials advise caution when swimming.

DULUTH, Minn- The Duluth Fire Department is urging the public to be cautious and alert when swimming the beaches on Park Point this summer, after they rescued a teen from sudden and unforeseen rip currents Saturday. “It’s just a good reminder that Lake Superior can be very unpredictable. The weather here in Duluth is very unpredictable, these conditions can develop…

Lightning Strike Ignites 2-Acre Wildfire Within BWCAW

Smoke from the fire and aircraft activity could be noticeable in the area especially along Highway 169/Highway 1 between Tower and Ely.

DULUTH, Minn.- A lightning strike is believed to be the cause of a fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), estimated at roughly 2 acres. According to the U.S. Forest Service, late in the day on June 4th, a wildfire was detected southwest of Hassel Lake in BWCAW on the LaCroix Ranger District of the Superior National Forest. Hassel…

Three UMD Students Displaced, Uninjured After House Fire

No one in the home or firefighters were injured.

DULUTH, Minn.- A house near the UMD campus erupted in flames late Friday night, displacing three students, who were uninjured. According to a spokesperson for the Duluth Fire Department, at 11:37 p.m. Friday a fire was reported on the second story on the 200 block of West Kent Road near the University of Minnesota Duluth campus. The fire was reported…

2 More Suspects Arrested For Shooting At Duluth Homicide Suspect, Final Suspect At Large

DULUTH, Minn. — Two more suspects, a 17-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man, were arrested Thursday in connection to Duluth’s first homicide of the year. Homicide victim Juamada Anderson Jr., 22, of Duluth. Four firearms were collected between the two suspects who are accused of firing back at Patrick Battees Jr., 17, of Proctor shortly after police say Battees shot…

Superior Fire Uses ‘Purple K’ Unit to Fight Equipment Fire at Graymont Saturday

No one was hurt from the fire, and fire officials say that's due in large part to the Purple K Dry Foam unit.

SUPERIOR, Wis.- A fire at Superior’s Graymont facility Saturday night kept firefighters busy for more than two hours. The call came in about 20 minutes before midnight. Superior firefighters who were off-duty at the time needed to be called in to cover any possible calls elsewhere in the city that night. Crews needed to use a lift to reach the…

Duluth Fire Department Introduces New Car Extraction Tool

DULUTH, Minn.–The Duluth Fire Department went to Bayside Recycling this morning for their annual car extraction training. This annual training is aimed at keeping the fire department sharp while being ready to respond to any situation. So far in 2021, there have been 149 deaths from car crashes which is already 42 more than this time last year. Duluth Fire…

Duluth Boxer Among 2 Additional Suspects Charged with Gunfire After Fatal Shooting

The homicide victim has also been identified as Juamada Anderson Jr., 22, of Duluth.

DULUTH, Minn.- The search is on for two suspects Tuesday – one a well-known Duluth boxer — who police say were involved in return gunfire following this past weekend’s fatal shooting downtown. Homicide Victim 22-year-old Juamada Anderson “There was a shooting and the tragic death of Juamada,” said Duluth Police Chief Mike Tusken. “And then as the suspect is fleeing…

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Reminds Boaters to Stay Safe

DULUTH, Minn. — Memorial Day is coming up and Duluth is preparing for a traffic-filled weekend on the lake. Last year, boat sales increased due to the pandemic, but because of those increased sales, boating accidents also rose by 20%. With the holiday weekend and summer weather approaching, it is important to remember how to boat safely. Steve Daniel, a…

Duluth City Councilors Officially Lift Mask Mandate; City Hall Closure Update Wednesday

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth city council unanimously voted Monday to officially end the city’s mask mandate. Councilor Terese Tomanek was absent. The vote comes after Gov. Tim Walz announced earlier this month the statewide mandate was lifted per guidance from the CDC. The city of Duluth followed up by saying it would not enforce the ordinance any longer. Councilors…

Weekend Shooting in Duluth Now City’s First Homicide of 2021

The suspected shooter is a 17-year-old male from Duluth.

DULUTH, Minn. –  A man who was seriously injured during a shooting in Duluth Saturday has died, making his death the city’s first homicide of 2021. A spokesperson for the city said the victim is a 22-year-old male from Duluth.   His name was not released Sunday pending notification of family members. The suspected shooter is a 17-year-old male from Duluth…

Floyd Killing Prompts Some States to Limit or Ban Chokeholds

(AP) – At least 17 states have prohibited or severely limited the use of chokeholds and neck restraints by police officers in the year since George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis after being pinned under an officer’s knee. Data provided to The Associated Press by the National Conference of State Legislatures shows most of the actions were taken in states…

Gone Forever? Superior Police, Fire Chiefs Evolve Mask Policies For Departments

While Superior police officers will wear masks when wanted by the public, masks may be the future for Superior firefighters under certain circumstances.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior’s police and fire chiefs are thankful to see the faces again of their men and women in uniform. But masks aren’t completely leaving while on the job in the community, as FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reports. The city of Superior and its employees are no longer mandated to wear a mask. But Mayor Jim Paine is…

NorthlandAlert Used For First Time To Alert Public Of Loose NERCC Inmate

ST. LOUIS CO., Minn. — If you ever want to be aware of emergency situations unfolding in St. Louis County as they happen, you can sign up for NorthlandAlert. It’s a free warning service you can subscribe to and get alerts through emails, texts, and phone calls. It covers many types of emergency situations in the county, and was used…

Sheriff’s Office: NERCC Inmate ‘Walked Away’ From Saginaw Facility

Jesse Crabtree SAGINAW, Minn. – The search is on for an inmate who escaped from the Northeast Regional Corrections Center in Saginaw Sunday. He’s Jesse James Crabtree, 48, of Hibbing, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Officials say he “walked away” from the facility around 2:30 p.m. It’s believed Crabtree had contacted someone to pick him up prior…

Minneapolis Suburb OKs Roadmap For Policing Changes

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (AP) – Elected officials in a Minneapolis suburb where a police officer fatally shot Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in April have approved a proposal to dramatically change the city’s policing practices. The Brooklyn Center City Council voted 4-1 Saturday for a resolution to create new divisions of unarmed civilian employees to handle non-moving traffic violations…

Superior Fire Department Warns Public About Dry Conditions Causing Wildfires

SUPERIOR, Wis.– With warmer weather on the way, that means people are going to start doing more outdoor activities especially having camp fires. But with those comes the dangers of a possible wildfire. This spring is drier than normal, and the Superior Fire Department is warning the public to be smart, as an increased amount of wildfires are happening in…

Northland Law Enforcement Remembers Officers, K9s Who Made Ultimate Sacrifice

For the first time since 2019, law enforcement agencies came together to honor the fallen, in-person

DULUTH, Minn.- For the first time since 2019 law enforcement agencies from across the Northland came together in-person to honor those who died in the line of duty, at the Law Enforcement Memorial Luncheon downtown. Across the country this week, law enforcement chaplains are honoring the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving and protecting. “When a law…

Undersheriff Phillips Hangs Up Badge After 32 Years with St. Louis County

Taking over for Phillips will be previous 9-1-1 Supervising Deputy Jason Lukovsky.

DULUTH, Minn.- On the last day of April, Dave Phillips said goodbye to his three decade career with the St. Louis County Sheriff office. “I truly can’t believe it,” he said. “It’s like you pick a day on the calendar and it’s like, months away, and then now here I am today.” “Want to go on a short ride?” he…

Special Report: When Love Turns Deadly

The daughter of murder victim Loretta Billman speaks out to raise awareness about domestic violence.

SAGINAW, Minn. – Every year, more than 600 American women are shot to death by intimate partners — roughly one every 14 hours, according to Giffords.org. The senseless crime has no boundaries, and that was the case just months ago for a woman in Saginaw shot and killed by her significant other in a case of murder-suicide. In a special…

UPDATE: Crews Still Battling Wildfire North of Virginia, Homes No Longer in Danger

As of about 5:30 the fire was still not contained.

 UPDATE: The Northland FireWire reports that fire officials say the blaze has now burned 86 acres, but is close to being contained. _________________________________________________________________________ UPDATE: According to the Northland FireWire, A fire official said the blaze burned about 56 acres so far. Several homes in the immediate area were evacuated, however, the wind shifted and those homes are no longer in…

Special Report Preview: When Love Turns Deadly

Story to air Sunday on FOX 21 Local News at 9

A special report – When Love Turns Deadly – Sunday night on FOX 21 News at 9: “This wasn’t an accident. This man knew who he was taking from us. He saw my mom and he decided that nobody else could have her,” said Kari Matthes, Loretta Billman’s daughter. The daughter of 62-year-old Loretta Billman speaks out to FOX 21’s…

Duluth Hiring Registered Nurse To Help Police During Mental Health And Substance Abuse Calls

The RN will help with calls, evaluations, and interventions, while also following up on cases of those who may need help.

DULUTH, Minn. — On Monday night, the Duluth city council voted unanimously to add a registered nurse position with the Duluth Police Department that will help with mental health and substance abuse calls. The job calls for a registered nurse from the Human Development Center, a nonprofit, who will embed themselves within the department. The department first launched its mental…

UMN Medical Student Researchers Find Long Term Effects Of Tear Gas

They recommend more regulation of tear gas usage -- and if possible, other options entirely.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.- Some University of Minnesota Medical School students have complied research that suggests tear gas can have long-lasting health impacts. The short-term reactions to tear gas such as breathing problems and skin and eye irritation are well-known already. So, the PHD Graduate Neuroscience students analyzed other studies on the longer-term health consequences, and summarized those findings. They found one…

St. Louis County Rescue Squad Responds to Man in Overturned Canoe in Elbow Lake

COOK, Minn.-. St. Louis County Rescue Squad and several other rescue agencies made a water rescue at Elbow Lake near Cook, where a Duluth man was found at an overturned canoe Thursday evening. At approximately 4:41 p.m. Thursday, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office along with the Cook Ambulance Service, St. Louis County Rescue Squad, U.S. Forest Service, and Virginia…

Standoff In Duluth’s Piedmont Neighborhood Ends Safely With Arrest

DULUTH, Minn. – A nearly eight-hour police standoff in Duluth’s Piedmont neighborhood Thursday ended peacefully with the suspect in custody. The standoff started around 1 p.m. in a home on the 2200 block of Nanticoke Street involving a 30-year-old man wanted on “significant charges,” according to a city spokesperson, Kate Van Daele. “Our officers exhausted every option to have this…

Duluth East Student Charged In Ammunition Scare

DULUTH, Minn. – The student accused of bringing ammunition to Duluth East High School and forcing a lockdown there is now charged with a felony. The 16-year-old boy, who authorities previously said was 17 in error, was in the Arrowhead Juvenile Center Wednesday charged with “possession of ammunition by a minor,” according to St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin. Rubin…

Duluth East Student In Custody After Ammunition Found in Locker, 90-Minute Lockdown

Duluth East went into lockdown Tuesday morning after a loaded magazine with 9 mm ammunition was discovered in a student's locker.

DULUTH, Minn.- Authorities said the situation at Duluth East High School is safe and the lockdown has been lifted after ammunition was found Tuesday morning in a student’s locker. “I was scared because most of my friends are in that building right now and I don’t know how they’re doing,” Junior Katie Higgins said. Duluth East went into lockdown Tuesday…

UPDATE: Outages Restored; 911 Disruption in Douglas County, Wisconsin

UPDATE: The 911 outages affecting Northwest Wisconsin have been restored. SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Douglas County 9-1-1 system is currently not functioning. If you have an emergency and you live within the city of Superior and have local phone service, attempt to call 715-394-4432. If you do not have phone service you will need to stop at any one of…

Easter Sunday Fatal Duluth Apartment Fire Believed To Be Accidental

An accidental fatal fire in the same building less than a year ago is not related, according to officials.

DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Marshal’s Office is calling its investigation into a fatal apartment fire on Easter Sunday as accidental. The call for help came in around 1 p.m. Sunday on the 600 block of East 3rd Street in the city’s East Hillside neighborhood. Upon arrival, crews found fire in a bedroom of a first-floor apartment, which is…

UPDATE: Firefighters Investigating Cause, Watching for Hotspots on Highway 61 After Multiple Fires Saturday

The multiple fires have burned an estimated 45 acres, according to the the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center. 

  GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.- Hotspots along Highway 61 North of Silver Bay are still being monitored Sunday by fire crews from six different area fire departments, Minnesota DNR Fire and Air assets, and Lake County Rescue squad, among other responders. The cause remains under investigation. The multiple fires have burned an estimated 45 acres, according to the the Minnesota Interagency…

Highway 61 Reopens After Numerous Grass Fires, Silver Bay Police Say

Authorities say "numerous grass fires" forced the closure of Highway 61 north of Silver Bay, which is an area near the Tettegouche State Park.

SILVER BAY, Minn.- A portion of Highway 61 has reopened in Silver Bay, Minnesota, after grass fires were burning near the road. According to a Facebook Post on the Silver Bay Police Department Page, “numerous grass fires” forced the closure of Highway 61 north of Silver Bay, which is an area near the Tettegouche State Park. Around 8:00 p.m. authorities…

Authorities Find Body of Missing Odanah Man in River

The body of 32 year old Kevin Rosin was found in The White River around 1:45 Tuesday afternoon.

ASHLAND, Wis.- A missing Odanah man has been found dead after an extensive search by multiple agencies since Friday. The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office says the body of 32-year-old Kevin Rosin was found in The White River around 1:45 Tuesday afternoon. Police K-9s helped to end the search. Rosin went missing after a single-vehicle rollover crash Friday morning south of…

Superior Firefighters Train For High-Risk Rescues Involving Their Own

The department's new storage facility was filled with fake smoke as part of the drill.

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Superior firefighters got some real-world, high-risk training Monday to help rescue one of their own if they were to ever go down during a fire. Fake smoke was pumped into a 5,000-square-foot storage facility behind the new fire station on Tower Avenue. The drill included a two-person team searching through zero visibility for a fellow firefighter in…