Crosslake audience learns about Manhattan Beach fire, enjoys wildlife photography

Crosslake residents gathered to learn about last October's destructive fire at the Manhattan Beach Villas and heard insights of working in city government from Mayor Patty Norgaard at the latest Crosslake Conversations program Wednesday, July 12.

Crosslake Fire Chief Chip Lohmiller explained the work behind putting out the Manhattan Beach fire, which took 99 firefighters from nine different departments. Crosslake fire trucks were on scene in just 12 minutes, which is within the 10- to 14-minute time frame Lohmiller said the department aims for.

Attendees were awestruck by the fire chief's photos of giant flames and clouds of smoke rising from the building. Though the fire was significant enough to damage most of the building, no one was injured, and the flames were out by 10 a.m. Crews had arrived at just after 5:30 that morning.

Two pumps took water from Trout Lake at a rate of 1,500 gallons per minute. Fourteen tanker trucks delivered water to the drop tanks so it could be used for the fire. A third pump on the beach of Manhattan Beach Lodge next door drove water through a hose that reached up to the villas. All together, 104,000 gallons of water were needed to combat the fire.

The final cause was listed as "undetermined."

Lohmiller highlighted the cooperation between the nine fire departments - Crosslake, Ideal, Mission, Nisswa, Pine River, Pequot Lakes, Emily, Fifty Lakes and Brainerd - which are all part of the Cuyuna Range Fire Association Mutual Agreement, where 32 departments assist each other with fire calls.

"We work so well together," Lohmiller said. "We train with each other so much. We work like we're one big department."

Another key to the fire department's success, Lohmiller said, is that the firefighters are truly dedicated to their duties.

"The guys are really here for the passion of helping people and saving people and serving the community. They're not there for the paycheck," he said.

Mayor

Norgaard, who took the mayor's seat this past November, shared her experience at city hall thus far and what being in such a leadership position means to her.

First, the mayor outlined the five principles she emphasized during her campaign: integrity, commitment, trustworthiness, understanding and compassion.

"Above my computer in my office at home, I have my core principles," Norgaard said. "So I look at those every day to remind me of why I decided to run for mayor of Crosslake."

Other important concepts Norgaard said she keeps in mind are transparency and patience.

"Patience is a virtue if you are going to be involved in city government at all," she said.

Norgaard tries to practice patience as she and other city officials focus on several important issues daily, including road construction, environmental stewardship, economic development, housing and sewer projects, just to name a few.

The mayor also discussed how she has had to learn to work well with city staff and the rest of the council to efficiently run the city.

"I don't care if we disagree or not. There is common ground for everybody," Norgaard said.

But above all, Norgaard said her success comes from remembering what her purpose is as mayor.

"My goal today is the same today as it was when I ran, and that's to do the best job that I can for Crosslake," she said.

Mystery topic

Each Crosslake Conversations session concludes with a mystery topic. The most recent one included a slideshow of photographs by local nature and wildlife photographer Mark Harlow, whose works contain plants, animals and landscapes ranging from Alaska to the Grand Canyon to Crow Wing and Cass counties.

"All my work is truly, truly wild. One of the things I take an extreme amount of pride in is all of my photography is never baited, never staged. I never use flash photography," Harlow said. "I want to represent what I see as the real deal."

Harlow captivated the audience with shots of the northern lights, the Milky Way, a snow-covered Grand Canyon and wild mustangs in Wyoming and Montana.

The award-winning photographer is currently working on a book that will contain "the best of the best" of his work and should be out in the next year or two. For now, local nature and photography enthusiasts can enjoy Harlow's gallery at Kicks on Route 66 in Crosslake.

Next month's Crosslake Conversations will take place at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the Crosslake Community Center. Note the change in day, as an art show will be at the community center on Wednesday.