By Brandi Makuski

An early morning fire in the city’s historic district prompted a heavy response from Stevens Point, Plover and Hull firefighters.

(City Times photo)

Metro fire crews were called to Jerry’s Auto, 1105 Second St., shortly after 1:30 AM on Wednesday. According to Stevens Point Fire Capt. Dennis Zvara, crews were on the scene until 5:05 AM.

“The garage was fully engulfed when we got there, and it just worked its way across,” Zvara said, adding crews had to work defensively because they encountered explosions from inside the building while fighting the blaze.

“I think there was an acetylene torch that blew [up], and oil cans, things like that,” he said.

Zavara said the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Kyle Kearns, an economic development specialist from the city’s community development department, said he wasn’t immediately sure how long Jerry’s Auto had been closed.

“But he was only open during the summer, I believe, in those few years just before he closed,” Kearns said Wednesday morning.

Kearns said the building is located within the city’s historic district.

The blighted location had previously been identified by residents as a weakness in the Downtown District during a 2014 public input session.

This story will be updated.