The Watertown Fire and Rescue Department responded to three separate calls on Thursday.
The first call came in just after 11 a.m. on the city’s northwest side. Investigators say a truck pulling an ice shack was momentarily disabled when an air furnace inside the shack caught on fire. When local fire crews arrived on the scene, they disassembled the furnace and then thoroughly inspected the shack to make sure the fire was completely out.
Local fire crews were called out again shortly after 1:30 p.m. to Dakota Pump Incorporated on
Quadee Drive after smoke was discovered coming from the attic of a shop area of the business. Firefighters removed a portion of ceiling in the shop area, at which time they found smoldering insulation and wood burning above the main ceiling area. Minimal damage was reported. Local fire crews remained on the scene for about an hour-and-a-half.
Watertown fire crews were called out again shortly before 3 p.m. to a machine shed fire on 459th Avenue southeast of town. When firefighters arrived, they found an 1,800 square foot machine shed fully engulfed in flames. The shed contained a John Deere loader, a skid steer loader, shop tools and other miscellaneous equipment items. The shed and its contents were all considered a total loss.
Watertown firefighters were assisted by the Castlewood Fire Department and by Codington County Emergency Management. Fire crews remained on the scene for about four hours and then were called back to the site later after the fire rekindled. No injuries were reported.
