The Grand Marais Volunteer Fire Department conducted a live structure burn with instructors from Mesabi Range Community & Technical College on Saturday, July 11. Top: Grand Marais Fire Chief Ben Silence practices hose techniques. Left: Firefighters fought the fire inside and out, working in teams.
A house burned to its foundation in Grand Marais on Saturday, July 11, but it was not a loss. In fact, the fire provided invaluable training for firefighters. The fire was a training exercise conducted by the Grand Marais Volunteer Fire Department and instructors from the Mesabi Range Community & Technical College.
The house at the corner of Highway 61 and the Gunflint Trail was the former home of Clifford Speck. His nephew, Lloyd Speck, donated the house for use in a live structure burn. Hazardous materials were removed from the house in accordance with a permit from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
The volunteer firefighters’ day started at 8:00 a.m. at the Grand Marais Fire Hall where they reviewed procedures with the fire school instructors. Also taking part in the training were visiting firefighters from Morse Lake and a student in a firefighting program, Ethan Lack. The vacant house was set on fire at 10:00 a.m. Wood pallets were placed inside and set aflame and firefighters took turns, in teams of two, entering and extinguishing the fire. After all of the firefighters had the opportunity to extinguish the smaller fires, the house was allowed to burn. Firefighters then took turns entering and finding the source of the fire.
Eventually the training stopped and the house was allowed to burn. Firefighters stood by to ensure that surrounding vegetation, a nearby power pole and neighboring buildings were safe. The fire department was clear from the scene by 5:00 p.m.
“This was great experience for our firefighters,” said Grand Marais Fire Chief Ben Silence. “We were able to observe fire behavior and to practice interior and exterior firefighting.”
Silence said firefighters Jim Roy and Matt Ziller also took turns being incident commander. Other firefighters who took part were Scott Bystrom, Stan Bautch, Aaron Mielke, Gideon Silence and Kyle Oberg from Grand Marais and Mike Gemberling, Stan Volp, and Jeffrey Nosbisch from Morse Lake.
Also assisting at the fire was Cook County Sheriff ‘s Office, US Forest Service, Grand Marais First Responders, and Cook County Ambulance.
The fire department expressed appreciation to Lloyd Speck for the donation and opportunity to use the house for training.
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