A quick and aggressive response by the Babbitt Fire Department mitigated a fire that would have otherwise rapidly consumed the home at 53 Birch on Dec. 4. The fire was reported at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. Ely Fire and Embarrass Fire were auto-aid dispatched and assisted with the suppression and overhaul efforts.
The fire cause was undetermined, started on the back of the house in a chicken coop burned up the siding and into the attic. Fire chief Tony Chamberlin said there were seven firefighters and two trucks on the scene within eight minutes. He credited the efforts of former Babbitt Police Chief Mike McGregor for taking quick action.
“Mike drove by and spotted it, woke up the sleeping residents and called 911. He was the superhero in this. Nate Bjork lives across the street ran over to do what he could, throwing snow on the fire. I’ve never seen an attic this burnt it was unbelievable to make a stop in this thing.”
Babbitt Ambulance Service and Babbitt Police Department were also on scene. Chamberlin said the fire department was on scene for several hours. Photo by Ken Hupila.
