Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
IRONWOOD FIREFIGHTERS battle a Wednesday morning fire at 401 N. Hemlock St.
By RALPH ANSAMI
Ironwood - Firefighting efforts at 401 N. Hemlock St. in Ironwood continued into Wednesday afternoon after a spectacular blaze that produced thick smoke was reported at 8:42 a.m.
The two-story house was a total loss.
It took the Ironwood Public Safety Department only three minutes to respond to the fire of undetermined origin, according to an initial IPSD report.
No one was at home at the time, but there were two dogs in the burning structure. Bystanders said a three-legged dog was rescued by firefighters from the house, but the IPSD said it is believed the other dog perished.
IPSD officers and volunteer firemen remained at the scene of the fire at the John Cooke, 41, residence until 1:42 p.m., when the trucks returned to the fire station.
The IPSD ladder truck and Truck 99 responded.
Eight IPSD officers and four volunteer firefighters fought the blaze as flames shot out from the second floor of the dwelling.
There were no reports of any injuries.
The owner of the building, a Hurley resident, said there was no insurance.
Xcel Energy, the Gogebic County Sheriff's Department and Beacon Ambulance also responded.
The cause and origin of the fire were under investigation on Wednesday afternoon, according to IPSD Director Andrew DiGiorgio.
