NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 10, 2017
CONTACT: Christopher Johnson, Land Staff Appraiser
(218) 726-2607
Chris Clark, Virginia Fire Marshall
(218) 410-1214
Tax forfeited Eveleth Days Inn being used for large fire training exercises
The former Days Inn - and before that, Holiday Inn - in Eveleth has hosted countless special events since it opened in 1975. The building has fallen into significant disrepair in recent years, and is now tax forfeited. It's expected to be demolished this fall, but before that happens, it will serve as the site for one last special event - a large fire training exercise involving approximately a dozen fire departments from around the region, as well as state and federal investigators.
A two day session, Burn to Learn, will be conducted at the former hotel this Friday and Saturday, August 11-12. The best time for media interested in conducting interviews and getting pictures/video is Friday at 9:30 a.m. The former hotel is located at 701 Hat Trick Avenue in Eveleth, between Five Seasons Sports and the Hockey Hall of Fame.
For this weekend's training, numerous rooms have been set up with identical furnishings and then will be set on fire in different ways. In battling each fire, the firefighters will see how the fires may burn differently, meanwhile the State Fire Marshall will assist with how to investigate the cause of the fire and what accelerant may have been used.
The hotel's large size - 124,000 square feet spread over two stories - has been providing unique opportunities for area firefighters and emergency rescue crews for more than a month. Fire departments were invited to participate in a number of training exercises on various skills including ladder operations, downed firefighter rescues, and roof ventilation.
"Being able to use this building has been a great opportunity for a lot of fire departments," said Chris Clark, Virginia Fire Marshall. "It's giving each individual firefighter good experience, but it's also improving the teamwork between departments when we conduct a regional training like this. Because in reality, if we ever have a fire in a large structure like this, we'll be calling for assistance and need to work together."
"This building was not taken care of for a number of years prior to it going tax forfeit and becoming the County's responsibility," said Darren Jablonsky, St. Louis County Deputy Director of Planning and Community Development. "To try and repair the damage from years of neglect would have been far too costly. So we're glad to find one more good use for this building before it's torn down."
Once demolition of the building is complete, the City of Eveleth plans to work with St. Louis County on new development for the seven-acre site.
###
|
