We have written service agreements with all 5 departments. We have 14 active firefighters. We also have formal mutual aid agreements with 6 neighboring fire departments, including a Native American tribal department, with a total of 87 volunteer firefighters. We support fire suppression efforts with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Our service area covers 240 square miles wit
h a sparse population of 906 permanent residents. Our seasonal population grows substantially, by the thousands, during the summer and fall, along with many thousands of tourists and visitors who seek the outdoor recreation in Voyageurs National Park, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest, Kabetogama State Forest and surrounding lakes. Mutual aid partnerships are important. We depend on each other for fire-related emergency support. Our mutual aid area covers a vast amount of acreage of forest and wilderness land adjacent to lakes, streams along miles of back forested roads. Our current fleet consists of Engine 01, Engine 02, Tender 01, Brush 01, Rescue 02 and Fire Boat 01. Engine 01 is a 2012 Pierce Responder with a 1250 GPM Waterous pump, 1000 gallon water tank and 12 gallon foam tank. It is our primary structural firefighting apparatus. It also carries the Jaws of Life rescue tools, a 5000 watt generator and SCBA’s. It has the ability to “pump and roll” which works great in wildland fire applications. Engine02 is a 1987 E-One pumper. It has a 1500 GPM Hale Pump and a 500 gallon tank. It is our back up structural engine. It also carries all of our traffic control equipment and is equipped with a deck gun. It has history in the area as it was purchased new by the city of Virginia and served as their Engine 1 until it was sold to us in 2012. Tender 01 is a 1989? International Eagle is has a 3300 gallon tank and a 300 GPM Waterous pump. It serves as our primary water shuttle when hydrants are unavaible. Brush 01 is a 1976 GMC pickup. It has a 300 gallon tank and a 300 GPM pump. It is our primary wildland rig and also serves as a initial attack vehicle and tows Rescue 02. Rescue 02 is 2011 kawasaki mule side by side atv. It has a rescue/wildland fire skid with room for a stretcher and a 50 gallon water tank and a gas powered pump. It is equipped with tracks for winter rescue situations. Fire Boat 01 has a 175 hp Johnson motor and a floating gas water pump. It responds to water rescue situations and water access fire scenes.
