Town of Rock Falls Fire destroys home

TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

Early the morning of Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, shortly after 8 a.m., the Merrill Fire Department (MFD) was dispatched to a report of a house fire at N3610 South End Rd. in the Town of Rock Falls, a release from the MFD said.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies and the MFD immediately responded, with the MFD dispatching Engine-61, Tender-65, Med-62, and Car-60. Upon arrival, the departments discovered the home fully engulfed with visible flames, and fire crews immediately began attacking the fire and setting up a water tank.
A call for mutual aid went out through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS). Tenders from the Town of Pine River Fire Department, Town of Russell Fire Department, Town of Corning Fire Department, and Town of Texas (Marathon County) Fire Department all responded, along with a rescue truck from the Corning Fire Department and a chief officer from the Pine River Fire Department.
“Tomahawk EMS staged in Irma for ambulance coverage,” the release said.
“Fire crews checked for hot spots with the assistance of Lincoln County Highway Department’s pulp truck and were able to make final extinguishment.”
The owner and sole occupant of the home was home but outdoors when emergency crews arrived and was uninjured. No injuries were reported; however, the home was a complete loss and the cause of the fire had not yet been determined at the time of the MFD release.
The Salvation Army responded and assisted at the scene, and the American Red Cross and Merrill Firefighters’ Charities are assisting the owner with shelter and basic needs, the release said.