Gunflint Trail Fire Department relies on lakes – and lots of hose – for fires

At the beginning of January, WTIP spoke with Grand Marais Fire Chief Ben Silence about a program in the city of Grand Marais that asks residents to “Adopt a Fire Hydrant” by clearing the large snowbanks that may be covering them. Learn more about that program here.

But what about people who live outside of the city with no fire hydrants in sight? How do local fire departments respond in those cases? WTIP’s Rhonda Silence checked in with Lutsen Fire Department Chief Paul Goettl to learn more about finding water during a wintertime fire scene. Listen to that interview here.

WTIP also checked in with Gunflint Trail Fire Department Fire Chief Jim Morrison, who oversees the 56-mile long Gunflint Trail. Chief Morrison tells WTIP that area lakes are the water source for the Gunflint firefighters—and that could sometimes mean using up to a mile of hose.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence learns more in this interview.

Rhonda Silence January 24, 2022