A car fire quickly grew and spread to a nearby cabin at 4700 North Road in Hovland on Friday, May 27. The Hovland and Colvill Fire Departments responded, but the cabin was already ablaze when they arrived. Fortunately the occupants, Ben and Corrie Steckelberg and their 15-monthold son, Wilhelm, were not injured.
Fire from a vehicle spread to a nearby cabin at 4700 North Road in Hovland on Friday, May 27, 2011. Fortunately the young family living there—Ben and Corrie Steckelberg and their 15-monthold son, Wilhelm, were not injured. However, the car, their home, and all their belongings were destroyed in the fire.
The fire started in the couple’s 1990 Cadillac. Reached by phone on Tuesday, May 31, Ben Steckelberg said the car started smoking as he neared home on North Road. He said he wasn’t too concerned, thinking it was an overheating radiator—something that could be fixed. He parked the car just as flames appeared from the engine compartment. “As soon as I realized it wasn’t just a simple car maintenance problem, I called 911,” said Ben.
He went inside to alert Corrie and the family moved outside, away from the car. Cook County Law Enforcement received the 911 call at 2:47 p.m. and paged the Hovland and Colvill Fire Departments and Cook County Ambulance. Members of the Hovland and Colvill Fire Departments were en route by 2:51 p.m. when law enforcement received a second call, from the cabin’s owners—and Corrie’s parents— Joel and Kathy Lewis. Joel Lewis reported that the fire had spread from the vehicle to the cabin.
The first Hovland fire truck was on scene at 3:16 p.m. to find the cabin fully involved. The Colvill Fire Department arrived to provide mutual aid and its focus was keeping the propane tank near the cabin cool. Despite the best efforts of both departments, the car and cabin were completely destroyed.
Reached by phone at press time, Kathy Lewis said they plan to rebuild the cabin, however, they are waiting to see what happens with insurance reimbursement.
The Steckelbergs are staying temporarily with family in Grand Marais. Ben Steckelberg said the community has been very helpful and that their immediate needs—including clothing for baby Wilhelm—have been met. However, the kitchen supplies that Corrie used for the baked goods she sells at the Cook County Farmer’s Market as Funtastic Baking were destroyed. The Steckelbergs were regulars at the Cook County Farmer’s Market—in fact, a fresh batch that was ready to go to the market on Saturday was destroyed in the fire.
Corrie Steckelberg said they hoped to be back at the Farmer’s Market before summer’s end, but added she wasn’t sure.
An account has been established at the Grand Marais State Bank for anyone who would like to help the family. Donations will also be accepted at the Farmer’s Market this week.
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