The holding tenders can store over 2,000 gallons of water each. Taylor Hale photo.

By Taylor J. Hale

Staff Writer

AMHERST – Smoke filled the rural streets near County Hwy EE as nine area fire departments gathered to douse the flames of a structural fire that started around 10:27 a.m. on Sept. 30.

The fire destroyed a metal barn structure filled with mostly hay.

Due to the remote location of the affected property, fire teams transported water to the site from over two miles away via drop tank trucks, filling holding tenders that store more than 2,000 gallons each.

Over three drop trucks were on-site to provide sufficient water to battle the flames.

Plover Fire Chief Mark Deaver said the cause of the fire is still under investigation, noting that there was no power running to the building.

“We know that there was no power running to the building and that there was no machinery involved in the fire,” Deaver said. “At this time we don’t have any other information. It will remain under investigation until a cause is determined.”

Fire departments from Plover, Amherst, Almond, Bancroft, Hull, Rudolph, Stockton, Stevens Point, and Park Ridge were on-site during the fire. Portage County Highway Department and Sheriff’s Department personnel were also on location. Crews were still on site as of 2:35 p.m.

Deaver noted roughly 50 firefighters were at the site to extinguish the fire.