Barn fire in Town of Pine River destroys building, kills animals

A barn was destroyed early Monday morning in the Town of Pine River, killing most of the small animals housed inside.
The Pine River Fire Department (PRFD) was dispatched on June 8, 2026, at 5:44 a.m. to W4032 State Road 64 after a 911 caller reported the structure fully engulfed. According to PRFD PIO Captain Mike Caylor, arriving crews found heavy smoke and flames showing from all sides of the building, with the roof already collapsed. Firefighters initiated a defensive attack and brought the fire under control within 15 minutes, then spent another two hours on overhaul and extinguishing remaining hot spots.
The property owner told firefighters the barn had been used to house small animals, including rabbits, turkeys, and chickens. Most of the animals were believed to have perished in the fire, though some chickens escaped on their own.
The cause has not been officially determined, but the property owner said a heat lamp had been in use the night before the fire. Fire damage limited the investigation.
Because the barn sat well back from the road, traffic on State Road 64 was largely unaffected during fire operations. A MABAS mutual aid box alarm was requested at the working still level following the initial dispatch but was later canceled after Pine River determined it had sufficient personnel on scene. The Merrill Fire Department assisted by establishing a water fill site for Pine River crews at the AmericInn.