IRONWOOD, MI - Friday, March 28, 2008 - The Ironwood Public Safety Department and the Ironwood Volunteer Fire Department responded to a structure fire on Friday morning at 529 Bluejacket Street in the City of Ironwood.

The IPSD was notified that it had received a 911 call from an Ironwood resident stating that the house behind hers was on fire. The caller did not know if anyone was in the home. It was later determined that no one was home at the time of the fire.

IPSD officers and volunteers arrived on scene and observed the house engulfed in flames. Firefighters removed two dogs that were believed to be deceased from the residence. Firefighters assisted a third dog in exiting the structure. Beacon ambulance personnel with the assistance of an Iron County Deputy attended to the two dogs, which they were able to revive and were later transported to a local veterinarian. One cat perished in the blaze, while another was rescued alive nearly an hour and a half after the blaze began. Several other cats are missing at this time.

The cause of the fire is listed as faulty electrical wiring. Twelve Ironwood Public Safety officers and eight volunteer firefighters responded to the scene.

The Ironwood Public Safety Department was assisted by the Iron County Sheriff’s Department, Beacon Ambulance, Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department, Hurley Police Department, the American Red Cross and Xcel Energy.

This was the 26th fire call in the City of Ironwood already this year.