DULUTH, Minn.- A brush fire Sunday out in Gary New Duluth is a reminder, firefighters say, that we’re entering one of the seasons where grass and wildland fires are common. According to firefighters out at Station 10 in Gary, sparks from railway tracks off Becks Road, which is near Grand Avenue, likely started a brush fire that burned for about…
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth has seen more than one abandoned building catch fire this winter. Now the city is proposing a new job to reduce how long these buildings sit around as potential hazards. The Blight Mitigation Specialist would work with the Duluth Fire Department, Office of Life Safety, and Duluth Planning and Economic Development. The City plans to hire someone…
DULUTH, Minn.- After a mass exodus of 12 retiring firefighters at the end of 2021, the Duluth Fire Department is finishing bringing on its largest new recruit class in decades. 12 new recruits finished onboarding this week. Normally after being hired they would spend two weeks training at Lake Superior College. this group will do that in spring if COVID-19…
DULUTH, Minn.- More ice is forming off the shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, but the Fire Department warns not to get too excited, as the big unpredictable lake can change with the slightest shift in winds. “Lake Superior is definitely more of a gamble so to speak than an inland lake or a smaller lake because of those currents,…
DULUTH, Minn.- Putting the Red Bull Heavy Metal Rail Jam together required a team effort from the City of Duluth and even some local businesses. From the clerk’s office issuing permitting, to the Duluth firefighters on scene providing medical attention, 5 city departments were involved. Spirit Mountain crews set up the obstacles, while Damage Board Shop in Lincoln Park shut…
DULUTH, Minn.- The frigid firefight at the condemned Esmond building Monday required all hands on deck from not just firefighters but business owners and community members in Lincoln Park. Staff at the All-American Club just across the corner on Michigan Street provided hot coffee, muffins, and sandwiches for crews taking a break. They say they witnessed the last two fires…
DULUTH, Minn.- A massive fire took over the former Seaway Hotel now known as the condemned Esmond Building in the Lincoln Park Craft District Monday, challenging firefighters with its fast spread in sub-arctic temperatures. Crews responded to the fire around 7:30 Monday morning. Just minutes later, three crews were pulled out of the building due to unsafe conditions and fire…
DULUTH, Minn.- The end of the year 2021 seeing the retirement of 12 personnel on the Duluth Fire Department – leaving with a combined 256 years of service under their belts. Many of the retirees have worn hats other than firefighter, like Fire Marshal Sandy McComb. Retiring after 24 years, she’s been in charge of car seat clinics for about…
DULUTH, Minn.- With temperatures dipping in and out of subzero the past few days, Duluth’s firefighters are telling people to be extra careful in the cold to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. Frostbite can set in in less than 10 minutes on exposed skin, so emergency officials say layers are your friend in the cold. But it’s still good to recognize…
DULUTH, Minn. — The number of 911 calls coming to the Duluth Fire Department is set to hit an all-time record high. This year, the fire department reports 13,930 calls so far and expects to hit 14,000 by the end of 2021, which would be the highest yearly total in history. Members of the fire department say they were worried…
DULUTH, Minn. – While fighting a recent apartment complex fire in the East Hillside of Duluth, fire crews were dealt with an issue that continues to be a problem during operations throughout the city. The Duluth Fire Department is reminding residents, especially drivers, to avoid driving across fire hoses when they’re in use to fight a fire inside buildings. This…
DULUTH, Minn. – Tis the season to be extra mindful in the kitchen, especially when you have dozens of family members inside for the holiday season. Fire officials are reminding amateur chefs to not take on too many things this holiday season…and avoid getting overwhelmed. This often leads to fires in the kitchen, which nobody wants to deal with during…
DULUTH, Minn. – Tis the season to think safety. With temperatures dropping into the teens and single digits, the Duluth Fire Department wants to remind Northlanders to think twice before overloading outlets. With many space heaters coming out of hibernation, Deputy Fire Marshal Christopher Orman recommends checking your fire and carbon monoxide alarms before blasting the heat. It’s also important…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Duluth Fire Department wants to make sure everyone enjoys treats, not tricks this Halloween weekend. They’re looking to remind parents and children of the potential dangers associated with trick-or-treating. After COVID-19 practically sidelined festive fun last year, they’re encouraging parents to have a talk with kids before heading out to collect candy. It’s important to stay…
DULUTH, Minn. – Pets in distress. It often happens when a fire breaks out, or during traffic emergencies. Now thanks to a partnership between the Duluth Fire Department and Duluth Veterinary Hospital, local first responders are better equipped to handle our four-legged friends. “I treat them like my kids,” said Coralie Anderson, owner of 3-year-old Ozzy the Pug. It’s a…
DULUTH, Minn.- Across the state of Minnesota Sunday, firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty or due to job-related causes were honored for their service on Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day. In Duluth, 19 firefighters from as far back as the 1800s to 2010 were remembered for paying the ultimate sacrifice. “It’s not always what you see…
DULUTH, Minn.- Two people were rescued from the water by Duluth Firefighters after their sailboat capsized near the Sky Harbor Airport on Park Point. According to a spokesperson with the Duluth Fire Department, crews responded to the initial report of the capsized vessel around 8 p.m. Friday. Two were confirmed in the water, they were retrieved by Marine 19 and…
DULUTH, Minn.- A lightning strike damaged both a Duluth church and a nearby water main during thunderstorms Saturday night, and officials are monitoring the structure overnight. According to a spokesperson with the Duluth Fire Department, at approximately 7:45 p.m., crews responded to Hope City Church at 417 North 3rd Avenue East, after a recording party said that the church had…
DULUTH, Minn.- Some local youth from the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Northland got to see first-hand what it takes to be a firefighter at the Duluth Heritage Sports Center today. For the Youth Firefighter Combat Challenge, 72 kids put their skills to the test with a chair climb, dragging a hose and dummy through the course, and other…
DULUTH, Minn.- Wind gusts over 30 miles an hour Sunday made sailing a little difficult, resulting in a water emergency call on the bay-side of Park Point. According to a spokesperson with the Duluth Fire Department Marine 1 and Marine 19 responded to a sailboat that flipped with the report of a person struggling in the water. The boat belonged…
DULUTH, Minn.- Burned wreckage and memories are all that’s left of the building that housed WWJC radio in Gary New Duluth, after an early Sunday fire took out the nearly 60-year-old station’s transmitters, taking it off the air. “We were the first Christian station in the Twin Ports,” said the Station’s Former General Manager, Ted Elm. “Sad to say that…
DULUTH, Minn.- A Duluth Christian radio station was left heavily damaged in a structure Sunday, with the cause unknown, according to the Duluth Fire Department. According to a spokesperson with the department, at approximately 3:08 a.m. Sunday morning someone driving by reported that flames were coming from the building housing WWJC AM 850 Radio at 1120 East McCuen Street. On…
DULUTH, Minn.- A 20-year-old woman was swept up in those violent waves Saturday and had to be rescued by the Duluth fire Department. Fire officials responded to the report of a woman pulled away 200 yards from shore on the 2800 block of Minnesota Ave around 4:00 p.m. The water was actually too choppy to use the Marine 19 boat,…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Fire Department issued a dangerous swimming condition warning for Park Point beaches Saturday, due to the high risk of rip currents, effective immediately. According to the Duluth Fire Department the warning lasts until 10:00 a.m. August 8. This warning means that wind and wave conditions can support rip currents. Rip currents are life-threatening to anyone entering the…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Fire Department and St. Luke’s Hospital are teaming up over the next few months to educate parents on car seat safety. Car seat clinics will be going on at different fire stations throughout Duluth. Organizers say 3 out of 4 car seats are not used or installed correctly, which can result in injuries to a child…
DULUTH, Minn.- The DECC’s public spaces were clear of ammonia and safe to enter Wednesday, after a major leak overnight. DECC officials say it’s the result of the convention center’s aging infrastructure that needs serious investment. “Went through the lion’s share of the building with a reader to see if any of the ammonia smell was around anymore and the…
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…
DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Fire Department responded to a house fire around midnight on Friday morning at 6 West Linden Street in the Duluth Heights neighborhood. When crews arrived, they found a large amount of fire on the porch of the home. Two residents were able to escape and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Two cats were…
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…
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, Minn. – The City of Duluth is currently eligible to receive more federal funding under the Biden Administration. Five Congressional Directed Spending requests, or “earmarks,” have been submitted to Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Duluth Mayor Emily Larson said the following during a press briefing on the requests Tuesday morning. “There is no guarantee that all of…
DULUTH, Minn. — A 15-year-old girl is credited with saving her family’s lives during a structure fire Tuesday morning. The Duluth fire department responded to a two-story single-family home just before one o’clock Tuesday morning on the 1100 block of East 10th Street. Crews noticed heavy fire on the second floor of the building. The four adults and four children…
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…
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…
DULUTH, Minn.–With temperatures in the high 80’s, and in some areas the 90’s this weekend, experts are trying to remind the community to not take any unnecessary risks when it comes to your children and pets in this weather. If you’re planning on taking your dog out to play or for a run, Animal Allies suggests doing it earlier or…
DULUTH, Minn.- While different events honored those who gave their lives for our country, veterans and active duty military members in the Northland observed Memorial Day from work — some in jobs that keep our community running and safe. Across the country at 3 p.m. Taps Across America events held a moment of silence and presented the colors honoring service…
DULUTH, Minn.- With Memorial Day being the unofficial kickoff to summer, many break out and fire up the grill for the season, so the Duluth Fire Department wants to remind the public of proper grill safety. According to state rules open flames are prohibited on decks of apartments with three or more dwelling units. Firefighters also say to be cautious…
DULUTH, Minn.- A busy day for the Duluth Fire Department brought them to a fire aboard the century-old J.B. Ford freighter in the Duluth port Monday — and age seemed to work against the ship, its old bones proving to be easily flammable. The J.B. Ford is the oldest intact lake freighter still floating, launching in 1903 in Ohio. It…
DULUTH, Minn.- A scare at Duluth’s Greysolon plaza on East Superior Street downtown on Tuesday, after water came gushing into part of the building and out onto the alley behind, a burst water pipe in the Skywalk to blame. According to Duluth Fire Crews, no one was injured or displaced as a result of this. The recent extreme cold, coupled…
DULUTH, Minn. – The Northland is a playground for many winter enthusiasts, especially for anglers when temps dip well below zero. On Tuesday, entertainment turned into an extreme rescue operation as roughly 30 anglers had to be brought back to land after ice on Lake Superior broke free. “We were out fishing and heard a big loud boom,” said angler…
DULUTH, Minn.-Many people are pent up at home and want to get outside and enjoy the winter, but our fluffy snow has gotten a little slick and hard, causing some kids and adults to get hurt while sledding around Duluth. According to officials with the City of Duluth, emergency personnel have responded to more than a dozen sledding injuries recently,…
DULUTH, Minn.- One young boy in Duluth got a special surprise his birthday Sunday — a parade full of trucks. The Duluth Fire Department as well as local tow trucks lined the streets in front of young Fenix’s house on Second Street and 18th Avenue West in the Endion Neighborhood. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings, Fenix couldn’t have a…
DULUTH, Minn.- Following the fire in Downtown Duluth that destroyed a building at 118 E. 1st Street, other businesses along that road said the number of fires happening to older buildings on their street is cause for a little alarm. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the Duluth Fire Marshal’s office is asking the public for…
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth’s Fire Chief spoke out Monday involving Sunday’s fire, once again at the condemned former Kozy building in Downtown Duluth — with the cause still under investigation. According to the Chief, the fire broke out around 9:50 Sunday morning, on the second floor above the bar. The flames were put out around three in the afternoon. “We got…
DULUTH, Minn.- Following a Friday night of turbulent storms, Duluth city officials said that the city had not taken much heavy damage, compared to nearby localities. On Friday the Duluth Fire Department responded to over a dozen calls of trees down on houses, cars, and power lines causing sparks. Meanwhile, the Public Works Department responded to about six calls of…
DULUTH, Minn.- Summer heat doesn’t last long in the Northland. While you enjoy it for the short time it’s here, experts say it’s important to do so safely. The first few weeks of summer have been scorchers in the Northland, with temperatures this past week reaching 90 degrees for the first time since August 2018 and temps nearing 90 Fourth…
DULUTH, Minn.- The Duluth Fire Department issued a red-flag warning on Park Point Beaches Sunday because of a high risk of Rip Currents. Despite this, many on the beaches said they felt safe as long as they were careful and didn’t swim out far from shore. Sunday’s cooler temperatures were a welcome feeling for many after a week of 70’s…
DULUTH, Minn.- The sounds of sirens, some very excited kids, filled the Harbor Highlands neighborhood Sunday. Members of the Duluth Police and Fire Departments pulled together a surprise Easter Parade for everyone there. “Break up the monotony for all the ids up here, probably have had their routines with what they’re used to doing: playing with their friends, going to…
DULUTH, Minn.- According to the Minnesota State Fire Marshal, 42 people died in fires statewide in 2019, a 14% increase from 2018, preliminary numbers say. The leading cause of these fires is smoking, with at least seven people dying in smoking related fires last year. According to Duluth Fire Department leaders, these fires tend to start outside by people improperly…
DULUTH, Minn.- Roads aren’t the only things experiencing problems under all the snow–roofs should be added to your shoveling list. Big piles of snow can create bigger problems in the form of ice dams and blocked vents, which can cause issues not just on your roof, but inside your house. Crews with businesses like Duluth Ice Dam Removal are three…
