TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
An early morning fire on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, destroyed a garage on E. Seventh St. in Merrill, along with the convertible car inside, and also damaged a truck parked outside and melted some of the siding on the nearest neighbor’s garage.
The garage, though located only about five feet from the house, was not attached to the home, and the home escaped damage.
The occupants of the property, Bob and Michele Duranceau, who have been renting for nine years, were home at the time. They heard a lightning strike close by during the early morning thunderstorm that moved through the area, but they were unaware just how close it was until they heard a pounding on their door sometime later and emerged to find firefighters on the scene and their garage fully engulfed in flames. They do not know who called 911, but believe it was likely a neighbor or passerby who noticed the smoke and subsequent fire. The Duranceaus believe a lightning strike caused the fire, but that has not yet been officially confirmed.
No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
The 911 Dispatch Center received the call around 7:00 a.m., and the Merrill Fire Department, Merrill Police Department, and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the scene.