Grand Marais Fire Department experiences an increase in calls in 2023 and receives newer aerial truck

It has been a busy year for many fire departments and emergency service organizations along the North Shore.

As 2023 ends, the Grand Marais Fire Department and other fire departments in Cook County experienced an uptick in calls in 2023. 

Aaron Mielke, the assistant fire chief with the Grand Marais Fire Department, said on average, the Grand Marais Fire Department experiences 20 to 30 calls annually. 

However, Mielke said that number has slowly increased in the last three years. 

At the end of Nov. and the beginning of Dec. the Grand Marais Fire Department received 42 calls for 2023. Mielke said the fire department has already had a few calls in Dec., “So we’ll end up with another record this year for 2023.”

The calls mainly include vehicle accidents, rescue calls, fires, fire alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms. “Probably the biggest percentage of that 42 are the alarm type calls, either fire or carbon monoxide alarms,” Mielke said. He added the 42 calls do not include any Emergency Medical Services (EMS) assistance calls.

As Cook County gradually moves into winter, Mielke recommends that renters and homeowners prepare their homes by checking the expiration dates for carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. If the detectors are past their expiration, they may fail and create a false alarm. Another important step, Mielke said, is to check the batteries. 

Mielke said the fire departments tend to see a slight increase in chimney fires as temperatures drop. This time of year, a good reminder is to inspect the chimney and clean any buildup of creosote prior to the first cold snap. Too much creosote buildup can cause chimney fires. 

As the new year approaches, the Grand Marais Fire Department welcomed a new aerial truck to the fleet, thanks to the Richfield Fire Department, located near the Twin Cities. 

“It’s a big improvement for the department’s capabilities,” Mielke said. The Grand Marais Fire Department is preemptively securing an aerial truck given the anticipated expansion of housing developments in Grand Marais and Cook County. “There’s a lot of plans for new buildings.” 

The 1997 aerial truck has a 75-foot ladder and will allow the fire department to reach farther and be more capable of putting out fires on larger two-story apartment buildings or structures. The former fire truck was a 1976 with a 50-foot ladder. Mielke said the additional 25 feet “makes a big difference.”

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Aaron Mielke, the assistant fire chief with the Grand Marais Fire Department, for an end-of-year update and winter safety tips for homeowners. The audio from the interview is below. 

Kalli Hawkins December 27, 2023