Door County resort fire sees units from across Northeast Wisconsin called to fight blaze
ELLISON BAY - All fire departments from Door County and departments from Kewaunee and Brown counties were called to a fire Tuesday afternoon at one of Door County's most well-known resorts.
The blaze was reported at 12:52 p.m. in one of the buildings at Rowleys Bay Resort, 1041 County ZZ, Ellison Bay. According to a post on the resort's Facebook page, the main building and its attached businesses were evacuated and all staff accounted for.
Rowleys Bay's Facebook page said the resort and its food service departments will be closed "for the foreseeable future."
"We are currently collecting the resources we need to reestablish an office space so we can communicate with guests regarding their upcoming reservations," a statement posted Tuesday night said. "As all of our administrative offices and equipment were lost in the fire, we expect this to take a few days."
Air temperatures were cooler than other parts of Wisconsin during the day, reaching a high of 80 degrees around 1:30 p.m., before falling into the 70s the rest of the afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. However, the wind was not as helpful with gusts above 20 mph throughout the afternoon, reaching 26 mph shortly before 5 p.m.
Answering the call were responders from all Door County fire departments − Ephraim Firefighters Association, Baileys Harbor Fire and Rescue, Jacksonport Fire Department, Gibraltar Fire/Rescue Association, Egg Harbor Fire Department, Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department, Sturgeon Bay Fire Department, Southern Door Fire Department, Brussels/Union/Gardner Fire Department and Washington Island Fire & Rescue − as well as Algoma Fire and Rescue and the Kewaunee Fire Department from Kewaunee County. The alarm also went out to Brown County departments, and Chief Deputy Pat McCarty of the Door County Sheriff's Office said five Green Bay units responded. The Red Cross also was asked to respond.
Rowleys Bay Resort said they'll post updates on its Facebook page when available. Resort staff are making arrangements for incoming guests and asked individuals with current reservations who can't find alternate arrangements to leave a message at 920-421-3005.
Rowleys Bay Resort was founded in 1948 along the county's northernmost cove on its east coast. The resort also housed Grandma's Swedish Bakery.
Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.
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This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County firefighters battle Ellison Bay resort blaze
