The Big Lake Fire Department (BLFD) responded to a reported house fire on Meadow Ave. Monday at approximately 10 p.m. 

The BLPD was first on the scene, confirming the fire and providing a size-up for incoming fire units. Police officers were on hand and also verified the homeowners were accounted for. They even attempted to extinguish the fire, but it had progressed too far. 

Additional resources were requested from the  mutual aid communities. Engine 22 and Tower One quickly arrived on the scene to perform the initial knockdown of the fire. Elk River and Monticello crews assisted in verifying there were no additional hidden fires. Chief Hansen and Deputy Chief Novak rescued the homeowners’ beloved cat, with a neighbor providing a pet taxi for the family. 

One firefighter experienced a heat-related issue, which was promptly addressed by the partners at CentraCare. 

“We appreciate the teamwork among our first responders and neighboring communities, which resulted in a successful save of most of the family’s home and possessions,” said BLFD Deputy Chief Mark Hedstrom.

The night wasn’t over as a call came in for a person down and needing assistance at 3:30 a.m. That was followed by a request to check the home of the earlier fire at 4:10 a.m. The morning ended with a call for a car that went off the road on Co. Rd. 43 and hit a tree and was starting on fire with the driver still in the car. BLPD was first on the scene with the officer (Hanson) risking her life to free the driver. 

Hedstrom arrived with the driver and police officer on the side of the road with the ambulance in route. Engine 22 arrived along with tender two whose crews extinguished the flames in the car and surrounding grass area. The scene was complicated by leaking fuel that kept igniting, but was eventually put out with dry chemical fire extinguishers.

“Our hats off to the Big Lake Police Department for their quick actions and saving this driver as it could’ve been much worse,” said Hedstrom. .

“Teamwork and cooperation is the backbone to our first responding system,” he continued. “It starts with the person calling dispatch and giving accurate information, dispatch getting the proper people to the scene and to the first responders, on the scene,  doing their job and mitigating the best possible outcome for the situation at hand.”