The Merrill Fire Department responded to two separate structure fires on Thursday, Sep 5.
According to a press release issued Friday morning, Sep. 6, the first fire occurred around 3:50 p.m. at the Golden Hawk Canoe Company, located at 121 Valley Street.
Upon arrival, MFD crews found heavy fire and smoke on the northwest corner of the building. Merrill firefighters went to work gaining entry into the building and efficiently extinguished the fire. The building was then ventilated to clear the remaining smoke. Workers were inside the building at the time of the fire and tried to extinguish the fire prior to the arrival of the fire department.. The fire was reportedly caused by a lightning strike to the building or nearby pole. The Town of Corning Volunteer Fire Department, Merrill Police Department, and Wisconsin Public Service assisted on the scene.
The second fire was called in to Lincoln County dispatch at 8:19 p.m Thursday evening.
According to the MFD press release, a 911 caller reported the fire at N2591 Airport Road in the Town of Merrill.
When crews arrived within six minutes of the page, they found a garage fully involved in fire with flames spreading into the house. Crews deployed handlines to knock down the fire from the outside, before making an interior attack.
Once inside the building, crews were able to put out hot spots.
The Merrill Fire Department received assistance from Towns of Corning and Pine River Volunteer Fire Departments, as well as the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Public Service, and Tomahawk EMS. The cause of the fire is believed to be unintentional. The homeowner was reportedly welding on a car in the garage when the fire started. No one was hurt during the incident, but the building did receive significant damage.