Chris Vetter – The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis.
RICE LAKE — A barn fire in Rice Lake on Saturday caused an estimated $550,000 in damages, according to the Rice Lake Fire Department. However, no deaths to people or animals were reported.
The fire at 2315 22nd Street in the town of Rice Lake was reported at 1:56 p.m. Saturday. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 2:11 p.m.
The single-story barn had smoke and flames showing from the center of the barn, wrote Fire Capt. Jeff Frank.
“While attacking the fire, a skid-steer was found to be fully involved in the center of the barn,” Frank wrote in a press release. “The fire was contained in the center section of the barn with smoke and water damage throughout the building.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.
The barn was in use housing livestock along with hay and feed storage.
“No animals perished in the fire; two bull cows and two chickens escaped the structure with assistance from firefighters,” Frank wrote. “There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.”
A total of 22 firefighters from the Rice Lake Fire Department were utilized during the incident. Two engines, one aerial ladder, one water tender, one command unit, and one utility vehicle responded to the scene.
In addition to the response by the Rice Lake Fire Department, Marshfield Medical Center provided a paramedic unit for standby. Bear Lake-Haugen and Birchwood Fire Departments each provided two water tenders. Xcel Energy was on scene to control electrical power. Barron County Sheriff deputies, Wisconsin State Patrol officers, and DNR Officers provided traffic and scene control, Frank wrote.
All fire units were placed back in service at 7:45 p.m.
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