A structure filled with two to three cords of wood, hay and equipment was lost to fire Saturday at a homestead southwest of Garrison.
The Garrison Fire Department was called at 5:41 p.m. to a detached garage fire on the 24000 block of Crow Wing County Road 26, which was threatening the home and an outbuilding on the property.
Garrison Fire Chief Mike Schneider, who lives just minutes away from the fire location, said the 80-foot by 60-foot structure was fully engulfed upon arrival. He said the homeowners called 911 and tried to extinguish the fire themselves by scooping snow onto the fire and using a few extinguishers.
Schneider said the detached garage was a barn/workshop that the family stored tools and equipment, vehicles, hay and two to three cords of wood. The fire destroyed the structure.
"This was a large loss for them," Schneider said. "We don't know what caused the fire exactly. It is undetermined.
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"They had been using a cutting torch several hours before the fire that could have caused a spark, but we don't know that for sure."
Schneider said firefighters were able to contain the fire to the barn, saving two other structures on the property. The house is located about 75 feet away from the barn and an outbuilding was about 25 feet away. Firefighters used foam on the two structures to keep them from igniting into flames from any flying embers.
"The wind was blowing pretty bad and it was blowing to the east right into the house," Schneider said. "We had a quick reaction time and were able to contain the fire. They lost their barn and we are sorry for their loss, but we kept them in a home."
According to the Crow Wing County property tax list, the owner of the property, which is classified as agricultural, is Jerry L. Benson.
Schneider guessed the value loss was about $100,000.
Garrison responded with more than a dozen firefighters to the scene. Brainerd Fire Department was initially called for mutual aid but was canceled en route. Firefighters were on scene for about four hours.
Schneider said it was good the homeowners called 911 right away before trying to extinguish the fire themselves. The fire chief encourages all citizens to call 911 right away if they spot a fire as the quicker a fire department can respond, the better the outcome will be.
