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Duluth Fire responds to fire at Essentia Health Vision Northland site

[Duluth, MN] Just after 2:20 p.m. today, February 20, 2022, the Duluth Fire Department responded to the report of a house on fire.  The report of the structure fire was in the general area of North 4th Street and East 1st Street due to a large amount of black smoke coming from the area.  Crews deployed to the area and located three external propane tanks outside of the new hospital being built as a part of Essentia Health’s Vision Northland project.

The propane tanks were located on North 4th Avenue, East between East 1st and East 2nd Street.  Soon after crews got on the scene, they investigated to determine if anything else was on fire.  Other crews at the scene connected hose lines to hydrants and began deploying water onto the three tanks.

The Duluth Fire Department issued a second alarm around 2:30 p.m.  A second alarm was issued to bring additional resources to combat the fire and further investigate.

Within two hours, crews were able to extinguish two of the three tanks.  By 6:00 p.m, crews were able to put the third tank out; however, as of 7:30 p.m.  crews are still on the scene, continuing to monitor the area until propane can be transferred and secured to another vessel.

During the fire, the Duluth Police Department assisted in closing off traffic around the area as a precautionary measure.  Traffic was closed on East 1st Street between North 3rd and North 4th Street.  Traffic was also closed on East 2nd Street between North 3rd Avenue East and North 4th Avenue East.  Traffic was detoured around the closed areas.  Crews from the City of Duluth’s Public Works & Utilities provided barricades at 4:30 p.m. to keep oncoming traffic from entering the area where crews were working.

No one was injured during the incident.  No buildings were evacuated during the incident.

Crews from Headquarters, Lakeside, Spirit Valley, UMD responded in addition to other callbacks.

The Duluth Fire Department would like to thank Essentia Health for deploying staff quickly to the scene to provide essential information on the construction and scene so quickly.  Essentia representatives remained on the scene for several hours to assist fire crews.

The fire is under investigation by the Duluth Fire Marshal’s Office.  Essentia Health is conducting an additional investigation.  Essentia Health is handling damage estimates.  No additional information is available at this time.

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