College/University (on campus), School / University Hibbing, MN – Sprinkler system praised for containing fire at community college March 30, 2017 viking210 An early morning fire left a 2014 Freightliner semi-truck totally damaged. The fire broke out shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday at the Hibbing Community College. According to the Hibbing Fire Department, crews responded to a fire alarm at the College around 4:40 a.m. Upon arrival, crews reported there was nothing visible from the exterior of the building but the fire alarm system was still activated. A Hibbing police squad later radioed that there was smoke coming from a garage door on the North East corner of the building, just four minutes after the initial response. The Hibbing Fire Department responded along with the Keewatin and Chisholm Fire Departments. Fire crews discovered a semi-truck on fire. The fire was contained to the truck and extinguished by the sprinkler system. Damages are estimated at $48,000 for the truck and $5,000 for clean-up costs to the building. Authorities say if the building had not contained a properly serviced and maintained sprinkler system, the damages could have exceeded $1 million. The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire. Maintenance staff say the fire is not expected to affect classes at the College on Monday.
