Nokomis storage shed destroyed in fire

Fire destroyed a metal storage building on Siemering Drive in Nokomis Monday afternoon.

The building is owned by the Patrick Gillette Living Trust and the Doris Gillette Living Trust.  

Little Rice fire chief Larry Mathein told The Lakeland Times he was the first to arrive at the scene and activated the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) which resulted in a response from firefighters and equipment from Little Rice, Nokomis, Rhinelander, Crescent, Hazelhurst, Cassian and Tomahawk. 

There were also firefighters with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) who responded to the blaze.

“We had a steel outbuilding, approximately 50 feet by 100 feet that was 50 percent to 75 percent involved in fire when the first units arrived,” he said. “The roof was already coming in. My understanding is there was a lot of boats and stuff stored in there, propane tanks and I don’t know what else.”

Mathein said he called for a MABAS box alarm because of all agencies “running tight on manpower especially during the day.”

“We did have a wildfire that was about half an acre because of this,” he said. “The DNR handled that for us.”

Mathein said the building and its contents were a total loss as a result of the fire. 

An excavator was brought in to pull the structure’s remnants apart so firefighters could make sure the fire was out. 

“I have no clue,” Mathein said when he was asked about a cause. “Everything is destroyed and having to pull that building apart, it’s hard to tell.”

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].