The Merrill Fire Department responded to 905 Royal St., in the city of Merrill just off of Grand Avenue, Tuesday evening at around 6:30 for a reported structure fire.
Upon arrival Merrill fire personnel found smoke rolling out of the structures south side, an attack crew entered the structure and was met by heavy black smoke. The firefighters continued through the smoke and super-heated gases to the kitchen area which was engulfed in flames. The initial interior attack crew was able to knock the fire down quickly limiting the spread to the room of origin.
Nobody was home at the time of the fire, a neighbor had noticed “smoke coming from the back of the home” and called 911, who dispatched the fire department to the scene.
The owner returned home to find crews continuing to work on overhaul, checking for any extension of the fire and salvage as the fire crews worked to save household items from further smoke and heat damage.
Merrill Fire crews remained on the scene for more than three hours.
Assistant Fire Chief Steve Hintze stated, “The attack crew did a heck of a job to get to the fire knocking it down very quickly.”
The home did sustain smoke and heat damage contained primarily to the kitchen area.
The Merrill Police department was also on scene.
No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.