On Tuesday, May 20 at 10:16 pm, the Menomonie Fire Department was dispatched to 703 3rd Street on a report of a smoke showing from a building. This address is associated with the apartments above 244 Main Street.

The first fire engine arrived on scene at 10:18 and found smoke coming from the south end of the structure between cracks in the brick and along the foundation. Firefighters entered the building with a hose line and went into the basement where they found dense smoke, zero visibility and extremely high heat conditions. A thermal imaging camera showed a deep-seated fire that had been burning for quite some time prior to being discovered.

Despite water application into the area, conditions deteriorated quickly and firefighters rapidly evacuated the basement, having to leave their hose line behind. With the knowledge all occupants were accounted for, the difficult decision to change tactics was made. Fires in these types of buildings create unique challenges where common walls can lead to losing an entire block of buildings, not just the original fire building.

Mutual aid from several surrounding fire departments, along with heavy equipment from CR Bryan & Sons was requested.

Firefighters set up a defensive perimeter in an effort to contain the fire to 244 Main Street. Throughout the night crews poured hundreds of thousands of gallons of water into the building after access was made by operators in an excavator. Although the fire was contained to the original building, the common wall between 244 Main and Mood Boutique allowed smoke and water to migrate causing significant damage to the boutique. Crews remained on the scene until 10:30 am the following morning (Wednesday) to monitor and extinguish hot-spots in the debris. Although an exact cause has yet to be determined it is believed to be electrical in nature.

This incident required a significant amount of manpower, assets and teamwork. We want to thank the following entities and individuals for their assistance:

• Menomonie Police Department for their quick action evacuating occupants of the second-floor apartments and continual assistance throughout the event. Their work greatly improved the outcome of this fire.
• Menomonie Public Works and Water Department for their efforts throughout the night controlling access into the scene, contacting outside agencies, maintaining wells and monitoring water tower levels to ensure a sufficient water supply to fight the fire.
• Clint Zack, John Zack and Curt Bryan from CR Bryan & Sons for their expertise with the excavator while opening up the building in near zero visibility conditions. Without a doubt, the work you performed was the main reason the fire was contained to one building. Well done!
• Our neighboring fire and ambulance services for their incredible assistance. Elk Mound Fire, Boyceville Fire, Colfax Fire, Durand Fire, Colfax EMS, Boyceville EMS, Eau Claire Fire and MABAS Division 117 Director, Quentin Popp. We especially want to thank Colfax EMS for covering two EMS calls during the fire. Their assistance with manpower and equipment played a large role in the outcome of this fire.
• The American Red Cross for providing assistance to those displaced by the fire and delivering food and water to the firefighters at the scene.

We also want to thank the community for their support during and after the incident. Those at the scene were respectful of firefighters working to control the situation and provided assistance when needed. Many individuals and businesses from the community delivered food and water during the incident and well into the next day at the fire stations. We work in a great community and the response during this incident shows exactly that.

Finally, we offer our sympathies to those directly affected by the fire. Please know we fully understand the loss you have suffered and hope the coming days and weeks bring comfort and promise of recovery.

Denny Klass, Chief
Menomonie Fire Department