Fire destroys Town of Merrill home during blizzard

A home at N4235 County Road K in the Town of Merrill was destroyed by fire Sunday afternoon, March 15, 2026. No injuries were reported, despite challenging weather and road conditions. The fire broke out in the midst of a record-breaking March blizzard that had dumped approximately 18 inches of snow on the area.
According to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, the 911 dispatch center received a call from the homeowner reporting the fire at 3:23 p.m. on Sunday, and the Merrill Fire Department was dispatched shortly before 3:30 p.m.
In a press release from the Merrill Fire Department, Fire Chief Josh Klug said arriving crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the second story of the structure. Firefighters initially deployed hose lines and established defensive operations. Because the location lacked a nearby water source, water shuttle operations were set up using tanker trucks from the Corning, Russell, Hamburg, and Texas fire departments, with a fill site established at a hydrant at North Center Avenue and 14th Street in the city of Merrill.
Klug said a roughly 400-foot driveway with no turnaround space added to the logistical challenges crews faced at the scene, and that mutual aid and off-duty staff were requested via the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) while units were still en route.
Responding agencies, according to both releases, included the Merrill Fire Department, Corning Fire Department, Russell Fire Department, Pine River Fire Department, Tomahawk EMS, Wisconsin Public Service, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Highway Department, and Merrill Police Department.
Both releases noted the residence is considered a total loss.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation; however, Klug said the fire does not appear to have been intentional.