The CAFD responded to a report of a small fire in a chip pile at Carlson Timber in Scanlon on Wednesday afternoon at 13:50.  Battalion 3 and Engine 31 responded along with Chief 1 who was nearby when the call was dispatched.  Upon arrival staff was met with a wood chip pile that was well over 30 feet tall, 400 feet long and 200 feet wide.  The pile had slight smoke and flames showing from the rear edge in approximately the middle of the pile. 

Upon investigation it was found to be a deep seated fire within the interior of the pile that had slowly burned its way to the outside edge over a period of days.  Chief 1 was Incident Command while Battalion 3 assumed Operations.   Command requested additional resources and Tanker 21 responded along with mutual aid tankers from the Esko and Carlton Fire Departments.  With the assistance of the Carlson Timber staff and their heavy equipment, an access road was cleared around the rear of the pile and unburned material was removed and trucked to a remote site.  The removal of the material uncovered the fire which had consumed a large portion of the interior of the pile.

CAFD crews stretched handlines to the rear of the piles and extinguished the fire as Carlson uncovered the material.  17,000 gallons of water were transported by the tankers and applied along with a foam solution to the burning pile.  All resources were clear of the scene by 18:15.

At approx. 22:00hrs on Monday night, CAFD Engines 2 & 22 along with Battalion 2 and Safety, responded to a report of an electrical fire in a mobile home at 2913 Strand Road.  Upon arrival firefighters found fire under the structure with smoke beginning to fill the home.  The fire was quickly extinguished and damage was restricted to the floor and one exterior wall of the home, with minor smoke damage inside.

There were no injuries and the occupant was assisted with shelter, food, and clothing by the Northland Chapter of the American Red Cross.  Firefighters were on the scene for 1 1/2 hours.

A report of a 2 car 10-52 resulted in 3 people being transported to CMH with injuries and a prolonged extrication on one of the vehicles involved.  At 2239hrs on Friday February 3rd, Battalion 3, Rescue 1 and Medic 9 were dispatched to the intersection of Hwy 33 and the Frontage Road.  Upon arrival, Command noticed  both vehicles had sustained major damage with 1 vehicle in the ditch and another laying on its side. 

Battalion 3 requested a second Medic unit to the scene and Engine Co. 31 from St. 3 for  assistance.  2 people were extricated from the vehicle in the ditch and transported by Paramedics in Medic 12 while Rescue 1 crews were performing a prolonged extrication on the vehicle on its side.  Stabilization struts and  cribbing were utilized to secure the vehicle, windows were broken out and the roof removed to gain access to the patient.

Once this was completed, the pt. was quickly removed from the interior front of the vehicle and placed into care of Medic 9 Paramedics  and transported to CMH as well.   

At 1854hrs on 1/9/2012, Engine Co. 2 and Battalion 3 were dispatched to a report of a vehicle fire.  Upon arrival, crews found the vehicle fully involved 3-4 ft from a 2 story residential structure which had extensive damage showing on the "B" side with possible extension into the interior attic space.

Engine Co. 2's crew quickly pulled a 1 3/4 pre-connected line and started first on the exterior of the house and then attacked the vehicle.  A 20lb propane tank which was located in the interior of the vehicle was off-gassing and fueling the fire which made extinguishment difficult.  Once the tank had drained down enough, it was pulled from the vehicle and the fire was quickly extinguished.  

While this was occurring, the remainder of the crew was inside the house with the TIC checking for extension in the attic and around the window frames.  No extension was reported.  The District Fire Investigation team was called in to determine cause and origin. Damage is estimated around $40,000, crews were on-scene for 1 hour and the cause is currently under investigation.   

CAFD units responded to a structure fire at 1280 Church Road at 04:45 this morning.  Upon arrival crews found the home heavily involved with fire in the front quarter of the home with extension up and through the roof in the front of the home.  Suppression and water supply operations were established and a rapid knock down of the fire was made by interior crews.  Firefighters from Stations 1 & 3 rescued two members of the household from the fire during their search of the residence.  The occupants, a small white cat  and dog, where shaken up and suffering from minor smoke inhalation but their conditions rapidly improved with care from the CAFD staff.  Damage was extensive to the entryway, living room, kitchen, and one bedroom of the home.  One firefighter sustained minor injuries, and crews were on scene for approximately three hours.  The animals were warmed and cared for by CAFD staff and reunited with family and friends.

Units assigned to the fire included; Chief 1, Division Chief – Safety, Battalion 2, Engines 2, 22 & 31, Tankers 21 & 22, along with FDL PD and Carlton County Sheriff’s officers.  Battalion 3 and the District Fire Investigation Team remained on the scene into the day.  The cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.

CAFD Medic 9 along with the Esko Fire Department responded to a two vehicle accident on I-35 between Scanlon and Esko at 06:55 this morning.  The accident resulted from a Ford Escort traveling Southbound that lost controlled and slid through the median into the northbound lane where it was struck broadside by a second vehicle.  The Driver of the Escort was declared dead on arrival and two individuals in the second vehicle were transported to Cloquet Community Memorial Hospital with non life threatening injuries.