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Lakeville Home Damaged by Two-alarm Fire
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
Josh Gubb Photo
June 16 – A two-alarm fire damaged a Lakeville home on Thursday.
At 2:49 p.m., Lakeville firefighters were called to 17398 Jaguar Ave. and Chief 3 arrived to find heavy smoke and fire showing from a garage attached to a two-story home. A second alarm was called, bringing mutual aid from Apple Valley.
Firefighters from Lakeville Engine 3 entered the home and attacked the flames from the service door. Engine 2’s crews stretched a back up hoseline and conducted primary search duties, according to Fire Chief Michael Meyer.
The crew of Ladder 4 was assigned to open up the ceiling in the master bedroom and stop the fire from spreading to the attic of the home. Secondary searches were performed by Rescue 1 and Ladder 1’s crew used the aerial ladder to ventilate the home by opening the skylight above the master bedroom.
Firefighters cleared the scene by 5:30 and investigators remained on scene to determine the cause of the fire. It caused extensive damage to the garage and the second floor bedroom and smoke damage throughout the home.
- Assignment: Engines 2, 3, 44, Ladders 1 and 4, Rescues 1 and 3, Chiefs 1 and 3, Fire Marshal. Second Alarm: Apple Valley Ladder 1. EMS: Allina ambulance and supervisor.
Residents Rescued by Ladder in Eagan Apartment Fire
Twin Cities Fire Wire
Josh Grubb Photo
Josh Grubb Photo
Josh Grubb Photo
Josh Grubb Photo
June 6 – Firefighters rescued several residents from their decks as fire damaged a large apartment building in Eagan on Monday evening.
Units were called to the LeMay Lake Apartments at 3025 Eagandale Ave. at 6:16 p.m.
When firefighters arrived, they found heavy fire showing from the main entrance to the three-story, 106 unit building. The fire was extending into the third floor commons.
According to scanner traffic, firefighters used a deck gun to knock down the heavy fire conditions.
Firefighters rescued several residents, whose escape route was blocked by flames, by ladder from their balconies.
“Crews did a good job with a quick attack preventing the fire from reaching the attic area,” said Eagan Fire Chief Mike Scott.
Two firefighters were treated at the scene of heat exhaustion by HealthEast crews.
“With the extreme warm temperatures, I called for additional assistance,” said Scott. Mutual aid was received from Apple Valley, Mendota Heights and Rosemount.
Firefighters were on the scene after midnight, checking for hot spots.
The occupants were not allowed to return to the building because of the smoke damage.
Scott said the fire started near the main entrance, but the exact cause has not been pinpointed.
The Twin Cities Fire Service in the News – March 31
First Responders Awarded for Life Saving Actions
Eight first responders were given life saving awards for their actions at a house fire in Apple Valley on Feb. 4. Firefighters Trudy Hagert, David Kennedy, Sam Seal and Nick Torrini started CPR on a resident after he collapsed while crews investigated a fire in his home.
Allina Paramedics Katie Kuenzi and Albert Reiff gave advanced cardiac life support intervention and police officers assisted in the save, Apple Valley Fire Chief Nealon Thompson told the Apple Valley Patch.
- Read the story and view the video here.
Grant Provides Medical Training for East Bethel Firefighters
A 2009 Staffing Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant provided the funding to get half of the East Bethel Fire Department’s firefighters trained at the EMT level, according to ABCNewspapers.com.
Chief Mark DuCharme said the $346,750 grant, which is spread over four years, provided the training for medical emergcnies, which accounts for more than half of the department’s calls.
“This is something we could not afford without the grant,” DuCharme told the paper.
- Read the story here.
Edina Fire Blotter
The Edina Patch has published an extensive list of emergenicies that Edina fire crews were called to between March 14 – 20.
Firefighters responded to more than 70 EMS calls, several crashes and assisted area departments at two major incidents.
- Read the story here.
South Metro Fire Looking at ‘Crash Tax’
The South Metro Fire Department is considering a “crash tax,” according to an article in the Pioneer Press.
They are considering charing non-residents $577 for responses to serious accident scenes. This could open the door for additional fees at other rescue incidents.
Several departments in the metro have already implented simialr taxes. The article says that Minneapolis created $129,000 in revenue from such fees. St. Paul brought in more than $30,000 in fees.
- Read the story here.
Two Veteran Bethel Firefighters Retired
Fire Chief Shane Swedeen firefighter Gary Fox retired from the department after more than 60 years of responding to emergencies in Bethel.
According to ABC Newspapers.com, Sweeden served for 20 years and Fox gaves 46 years of service to the community. Both joined the department after witnessing fires while they were young.
The two talk about the ups and downs of being a firefighter in the small community in the artice.
- Read the story here.
Bethel Names New Fire Chief
David Arcand, a six-year member of the Bethel Fire Department, was tapped to lead the department in January.
The new chief talks with ABCNewspapers.com about his goals for the department, which operates on an annual budget of $28,000. He hopes to apply for grants, increase fundraising efforts and raise the department’s ISO rating, which is currently a nine.
- Read the story here.
Rosemount Honors Emergency Responders
Rosemount named Fire Captain Mike Reis as firefighter of the year, the Rosemount Patch reports. He has been a member for 29 years and has served in several capacities.
- Read the story here.
Crews Remove Stranded Monorail Passengers at Zoo
March 25 – Apple Valley firefighters assisted dozens of passengers after they were trapped on the monorail at Minnesota Zoo.
At 1:13 p.m., crews from Apple Valley Station 2 were called to the Minnesota Zoo, at 13000 Zoo Blvd., to assist zoo staff in removing passengers from the monorail. “Upon arrival we were informed that the monorail had stalled and could not be restarted,” Apple Valley Fire Chief Nealon Thompson said.
Forty-four passengers were stranded 18 feet above the ground.
Firefighters placed ground ladders to the first car on the monorail. According to Thompson, “passengers were then assisted with moving forward from car to car and then climbing down the ground ladders.”
Thompson said they carried several children to safety and helped many others. All riders were safely on the ground by 2:06 p.m.
- Assignment: Engines 2, 3, 22, and Ladder 3
Area Firefighters Participate in Stair Climb
Apple Valley FD Photo
Firefighters from across the metro participated in the 2011 Fight for Air Climb at the Accenture Tower in Minneapolis last Saturday.
Congratulations to the more than 400 participants. The overall goal of all climbers was to bring in $140,000 and they exceeded that by $12,193.61.
Firefighters from the following climbed: Shakopee, Stewartville, Long Lake, Lexington, Apple Valley, Golden Valley, Chanhassen, Brooklyn Park, West Metro, Richmond, Jordan, Kensington, Glencoe, and Pierre.
Following are the results from the firefighter categories:
Fastest Firefighter
- Fastest Male Firefighter – Mark Alberts, Hutchinson Fire Department – 4:48
- Fastest Female Firefighter – Nancy Schmelzle, St. Louis Park – 6:59
Top Fundraising Firefighter Teams
- Overall Top Fundraising Firefighter Team – Golden Valley Fire Department – $9,650
- 2nd Place Fundraising Firefighter Team – Chanhassen Fire Department – $6,170
- 3rd Place Fundraising Firefighter Team – Stewartville Fire – $3,865
Top Fundraising Firefighters
- Top Fundraising Firefighter – Ken Bence, Golden Valley Fire Department – $4,660
- 2nd Place Fundraising Firefighter – Steve Smith, Chanhassen Fire Department – $1,530
- 3rd Place Fundraising Firefighter – John Williams, Chanhassen Fire Department – $1,345
Fastest Firefighter Teams
- Overall Fastest Fire Fighter Team – Hutchinson Fire Department – 27:56
- 2nd Place Fastest Firefighter Team – Long Lake Fire Department – 28:32
- 3rd Place Fastest Firefighter Team – Shakopee Fire – 28:44
In the photo above, the Apple Valley Fire Department Smoke Eaters climbing team. Front row: (left to right) Marisa Holman, Lt. Colleen Elvin and Laura Basballe. Back row: (left to right) Brian Benson, Lt. Pat Gram, Tom Ilg.
Click here for more information on the climb and click here for more photos.
Early-Morning Fire at Eagan Restaurant
MNDOT Traffic Camera Photo
Firefighters are at the scene of an early-morning fire at an Eagan restaurant.
Crews were called to Ansari’s Mediterranean Grill on Rhan Cliff Road about 5 a.m.
Units from Eagan and Apple Valley have been on the scene battling the fire.
TwinCitiesFireWire.com will update the story when additional details are available.
Fireplace Sparks Dwelling Fire in Eagan
A fire that started in a fireplace caused extensive damage to an Eagan home, just as the Super Bowl kicked off on Sunday.
Fire crews were called for a report of heavy smoke in the home at 1235 Tananger Ct. at 5:25 p.m.
When Eagan police arrived they found heavy smoke from “multiple areas of the home,” according to Eagan Fire Chief Mike Scott. Scott requested a second alarm.
On arrival, Scott heavy smoke showing and said the fire appeared to be near the fireplace.
Engine 6 arrived and stretched a hoseline into the structure and the crew from Support 2 secured a water supply.
Ladder 2 opened up to check for fire extension and Engine 4 was assigned to provide a backup hoseline.
A third alarm was called for additional assistance and Apple Valley Engine 2 was called to cover the city of Eagan.
Scott said the fire was contained to the wood structure that enclosed the fireplace, but it caused extensive damage to the area around the fireplace on the lower level of the home. He estimated the damage to be about $100,000.
- First Alarm Assignment: Engines 4 and 6, Ladder 2, Chiefs 1 and 3. Second Alarm Assignment: Engines 3 and 42, Ladder 2 and Support 2. Third Alarm Assignment: Engine 52, Brush 4 and Utility 2
Three-Alarm Fire Strikes Burnsville Apartments
Twin Cities Fire Wire Photo
Few details are available about a fire that broke out shortly after midnight Saturday at a Burnsville apartment complex.
Fire crews were called to the Raven Hill Apartments — 13050 Harriet Ave. South. — about 12:10 a.m. The caller reported smoke and flames from a third floor apartment.
Burnsville Engine 2 went on scene with heavy smoke from a three-story garden apartment complex and requested a second alarm.
Minutes later, a third alarm was requested along with additional ambulances.
Firefighters from Apple Valley and Bloomington were on the scene, assisting Burnsville units. Several ambulances from Allina were called as well.
Several fires have damaged units at the Raven Hill Apartments in the last few years, including a June 2007 fire that left dozens of families homeless.
TwinCitiesFireWire.com will update the story when more information is available.
Morning Fire Damages Lakeville Garage, Home
Lakeville Fire Department Photo
Lakeville Fire Department Photo
Lakeville Fire Department Photo
A late-morning fire caused extensive to a Lakeville home on Tuesday morning.
Crews were called to 17445 Homestead Tr. for a possible garage fire at 10:50 a.m. While fire units were enroute, police confirmed a fire.
Lakeville Fire Chief 1, Mike Meyer, said that he arrived to find “heavy black smoke and fire showing from the attached garage.” The occupants had evacuated.
The first crews started an offensive attack using 1 3/4-inch hoselines from inside the home, through the service door into the garage. A 2 1/2-inch line was deployed to darken the heavy fire in the main garage area.
Meyer said “crews moved to the attic area where fire had traveled to” from the garage.
Three engines, two ladders and two rescues responded from four Lakeville stations and with a mutual aid engine and chief from Apple Valley.
Two bedrooms suffered heavy damage and no injuries were reported. The cause is still under investigation.
“Thank you to some homeowners who assisted in digging out one of the fire hydrants used during the fire,” Meyer said.
Twin Cities Fire Wire 