Extensive damage in Tuesday structure fire near Mitchell prevents official cause determination
Dec. 10—The cause of Tuesday's structure fire in rural Mitchell will remain undetermined due to the extent of damages, the Mitchell Fire Division said.
At approximately 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7, fire crews from Mitchell responded to a structure fire in a detached garage near the intersection of 259th Street and 404th Avenue, approximately five miles southwest of Mitchell.
Upon arrival, firefighters found fire venting through a walk-in door, as well as a back window. Smoke was exiting the eaves throughout the entire structure. The contents of the building were consumed by flames and a defensive strategy was used by fire crews.
In an effort to improve venting, crews used a forklift to entirely remove a large garage door on the building's south face.
During a structure fire on Dec. 7, firefighters from Mitchell, Ethan, and Mount Vernon used a forklift to remove a garage door in an effort to increase venting. pic.twitter.com/HeZy0IRecu
— Hunter Dunteman (@HRDunt) December 10, 2021
Responders spent several hours extinguishing the fire. Marius Laursen, chief of the Mitchell Fire Division, said ammunition was stored inside the garage, and believed propane tanks may have also been inside.
The rural setting of the fire presented challenges in lack of manpower and water access, leading Mount Vernon and Ethan Volunteer Fire Departments to provide mutual aid.
Despite the aid, the damage from the fire was too extensive, prompting Mitchell Fire Marshal Shannon Sandoval to deem the cause undetermined.
The structure was unoccupied at the time at the fire, and no injuries were reported by fire officials.
No other structures were lost as a result of the fire.
