BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
A call of a house fire came in to the Lincoln County 911 Dispatch Center just before 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. “Initial dispatch information was for a possible electrical fire,” said John Kraegenbrink II, Battalion Chief with the Merrill Fire Department (MFD).
Merrill Police Department officers were on scene first, blocked the road, and verified all occupants were out of the home at 500 East Street in Merrill, along with evacuating the neighboring house.
MFD dispatched Engine 61 and Truck 63 immediately and could see smoke from the area “immediately after leaving the fire station.”
“First arriving units found heavy fire on the exterior of the building. The fire had spread across much of the north side of the residence while enroute,” Kraegenbrink said. “A 2 ½ inch attack line was deployed and much of the exterior fire was extinguished.”
Mutual aid was requested from Tomahawk EMS, Wisconsin Public Service, Pine River Fire Department, Corning Fire Department, Russell Fire Department, and City of Wausau Fire Department along with a General Alarm for off-duty Merrill Firefighters and once additional resources arrived on scene, they started interior operations.
“Interior fire damage was minimal but smoke damage was extensive,” Kraegenbrink said. “Salvage and overhaul operations were performed with no additional fire found.”
According to the MFD, incident Command declared the fire under control at approximately 1:10 p.m. They used approximately 800 gallons of water and a “minimal amount” of Class A foam to extinguish the fire.
The Red Cross was contacted for emergency assistance and a representative had already been in contact with the home owners before the scene was released.
“All mutual aid companies were released from the scene and MFD units were back in service at approximately 3:30 p.m.,” Kraegenbrink said.