At 2:28 am September 10th, an alarm was struck with the Eveleth, Minnesota Fire Department for a totally involved structure fire at an abandoned house on the 200 block of Fayal Ave.
Eveleth 535 Captain Pete Makowski led first due Engine One to the scene and reported a 2 story residential structure fully involved with critical exposures on both sides.
Eveleth Engine 2 and Eveleth Rescue advised enroute as Assistant Chief Mark Smith arrived to establish Fayal Avenue command and ordered protection of the structures on the exposures as vinyl siding on the side of a neighboring house was begining to melt.
Assistant Chief Smith also put out a call for assistance to Fayal Fire Department for Mututal Aid. Units were hindered in apparatus placement by arcing power lines at the rear of the structure, making access difficult. After the first 2 lines were stretched for exposure protection, foaming operations were established in an exterior defensive attack on the structure while nearby Gilbert Fire Department was also requested to respond for manpower. Within minutes of arrival the structure collapsed, helping to knock down the 30 foot high flames extending through the roof.
With the structure down, crews were able to move in and surpress the fire quickly.
Eveleth Public Works was advised to respond with a backhoe to assist in overhauling of the structure to find hot spots. Units remained on scene for a total of 3 and a half hours with final units clearing at 6 am.
