The Douglas County town of Gordon has lost its fire station, in the area’s second devastating blaze this year. In May, the station was the command post for a massive forest fire in northwest Wisconsin that destroyed 17 homes. On Thursday, the fire station itself went up in flames.
Gordon’s volunteer fire-fighters responded around noon, only to see their equipment burning and had to wait for surrounding departments to help. Gordon Fire Chief Mike Chmielecki said small explosions were heard in the station. When he arrived on the scene, smoke and flames were already spewing out.
Six fire trucks were destroyed, along with a snowmobile and other emergency vehicles. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
The chief says the surrounding fire departments will continue to serve Gordon for now, under a mutual aid agreement. Douglas County officials said the state fire chiefs’ association would ask its members for surplus gear.
