BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

On Aug. 25, 2023, at approximately 7:15 p.m. the Merrill Fire Department (MFD) was dispatched to a house fire at 1910 Water St. in Merrill’s Sixth Ward.
“Engine-61 and Med-63 responded immediately from the fire station as Medic 61 was responding to an ambulance call about the same time,” Fire Chief Josh Klug said in a press release. Merrill Police Department (MPD) was already on scene when firefighters arrived and “reported heavy smoke in the kitchen area and possibly extending into the walls of the home.”
Dispatch advised the caller said the fire had started on the kitchen stove.
All human occupants of the residence had evacuated the home, but it was reported the family dog might still be inside.
Firefighters began extinguishing the fire in the kitchen area. After the fire was contained to the kitchen, they located the dog inside the home and brought the pet outside where it was reunited with the owners.
According to the MFD, the home suffered moderate damage to the kitchen area.
Mutual aid was requested from Russell, Corning, Pine River, and Wausau Fire Departments and Tomahawk EMS, the MFD reported; however, “the fire was quickly contained” and the departments cancelled their response except for the Pine River Fire Department. MPD and Wisconsin Public Service also assisted at the scene.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, preliminary investigation suggests “the fire likely started in the kitchen area of the home and was unintentional in nature” a press release from the MFD said.