PILLAGER-A fire destroyed Swede's Auto Repair in Sylvan Township in Pillager late Wednesday night.
Pillager Area Fire and Rescue responded to the structure fire at 11:10 p.m. at the auto repair business on 4281 Highway 210, Pillager. A passer-by called 911 after seeing the fire at the business owned by Ronnie Arneson.
Pillager Fire Chief Randy Lee said the tin building was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. Flames and smoke had already broken through the roof and two rafters had collapsed. Lee said when tin buildings are on fire, they will collapse on themselves and firefighters had to fight the fire defensively-meaning from the exterior. The building contained four vehicles, heavy equipment, tires, tools, repair parts and old and new oil.
No one was inside the building when the fire started and the cause is not known, Lee said. He said they do not believe the fire is suspicious, but the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Office will investigate to determine the cause of the fire.
Lee said he wasn't sure, but the owner may be able to salvage some items in the location.
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A dozen Pillager firefighters responded to the fire and were on scene until 4 a.m. Thursday. The Motley Fire Department was called for mutual aid and provided manpower to run the tanker trucks. Firefighters responded back to the location at 7:10 a.m. Thursday as smoke was showing in different spots and needed to be extinguished.
Lee said it took longer to extinguish the fire because of the dangers of the building collapsing at any time, which made it difficult for firefighters to spray the water in the spots needed.
