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Nov 28, 2008 6:58 pm US/Central
Fire Damages Factory Near Lake Mille Lacs
MILACA, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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Fire at the Merit Enterprise plant in Isle, Minn.
Mille Lacs Messsenger
A fire at a manufacturing plant in Isle prompted the evacuation of nearby residents Friday morning. Isle is on the shore of Lake Mille Lacs.
Residents got the OK to return to their homes around 4 p.m.
The extent of the damage to the building was unclear. No injuries were reported.
A dispatcher at the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office says the report of a fire at Merit Enterprises Inc. came in shortly after 5 a.m. Officials ordered the evacuation because they feared toxic chemicals could be released by the fire. However, she says she didn't think that happened.
John Weiers is one of 27 people who work for Merit Enterprises. He watched the place burn Friday morning.
"It was amazing. It was -- sadness in there," he remarked. "Lots of fire, lots of fire. It started on this end of the building and the way the wind's going, it just blew it right through it. Just blew it right through the building. It was just total loss."
A local Isle, Minn., family owns the company. It's an important part of the community.
Weiers wondered about his future. As devastating as it is, he is counting his holiday blessings, thankful no one was hurt and hopeful the company will rebuild and put him back to work.
"This just a speed bump. You gotta continue, you got to go on. I mean, what other choice do you have," he said.
Firefighters and sheriff's deputies immediately evacuated people who live within three miles south of the fire. That was the direction the smoke was blowing.
"First the doorbell rang. Then he pounded on the door. He was in a hurry," remarked Jeff Benson. "Once we got in the garage to leave, there were some pretty serious flames."
Mike Eye is the President of Merit Enterprises. He got a call around 5 a.m. that his place was on fire.
"A little shell-shocked right now," he said, as he looked at the building. "We have to figure out how we're going to serve our customers, how we're going to serve our employees, and how we're going to keep going."
He says there is a Thanksgiving blessing.
"Nobody's hurt. Nobody's inside. We're lucky that way any way," he said.
Merit Enterprises says on its Web site that it is a metal finishing company that has been plating parts with precious metals for more than 50 years.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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