It has been a busy week, thus far, for Milbank Fire Rescue Department personnel.
Early yesterday (Monday) morning, local fire crews were called to a report of a residential garage fire north of town. Milbank Fire Chief Kevin Schuelke says the fire call came in shortly before 4 a.m. from the Dennis Fonder residence located at 14241 479th Avenue.
When local firemen arrived on the scene, they discovered flames coming from inside a garage which was attached to the house. The homeowner kept the doors to the garage closed in an effort to keep the fire from spreading to the home. Local fire crews then entered the garage and quickly extinguished the blaze.
Fire damage was confined primarily to the garage, with the home itself and a basement joining wall also receiving some damage, as well. Smoke damage was also reported throughout different areas of the home.
Milbank Fire Rescue crews were also assisted by the Big Stone City Fire Department. Firefighters remained on the scene for about an hour-and-a-half.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Milbank Fire Rescue Department crews also responded to another fire call late last (Monday) night. Fire Chief Schuelke says the fire call came in at around 11:45 p.m. from Dakota Granite, located at 48391 150th Street.
When fire crews arrived on the scene, they discovered flames coming from the rear of a fairly new 16 X 30 foot steel wood frame garage style shed. In an effort to gain access to the fire, local fire crews opened the roof/siding area in order to extinguish the blaze.
It was determined the fire originated in a pressure washer contained room with the blaze eventually spreading to the framework and roof area.
Firefighters were able to keep the blaze confined to a small area of the building with the finished portion of the structure sustaining minimal damage.
Local fire crews remained on the scene until approximately two o’clock this (Tuesday) morning.
