Crews Battle Christmas Eve Blaze; No Injuries

By Brandi Makuski

No injuries were reported in a Christmas Eve fire on Plover’s southeast side.

Metro Fire crews were called to the 3000 block of Village Park Dr. at 7:11 AM on Dec. 24, after a nearby worker saw flames from the detached car wash at the R Store gas station near Dunkin’ Donuts.

The fire reportedly started on the second story of the building, according to Plover Deputy Fire Chief Ken Voss, and crews were on the scene within three minutes of the call. All told, about 20 firefighters from Plover and Stevens Point responded to the scene in -4 degree temps.

“We saw the fire coming through the wall in the attic,” Voss said, adding a ladder truck was utilized so firefighters would cut holes in the roof to ventilate and “overhaul” the charred spots.

“It only took a couple of minutes to get the fire knocked down,” he added.

The cause remains under investigation.

Voss said it was a Cenex gas station employee from across the street who reported the fire. That gas station, along with the R Store, are both owned by Riiser Energy.

The neighboring Dunkin’ Donuts provided free coffee and breakfast to the firefighters and police on the scene, and also served as a temporary warming center for emergency workers, Voss said.