March 02--Firefighters were on scene nearly 12 hours Friday evening into Saturday morning at a fire that destroyed the Schafer Fisheries Northern Collection Facility, 510 Dunn St., in Pepin.
The Pepin Fire Department was called to the blaze about 4:45 p.m. Friday, according to First Assistant Chief Steve Juliot.
The fish market processed mostly carp and sheepshead, Juliot said.
The cause of the fire and a damage estimate has not been determined. An employee called in the fire that appears to have started in the processing area.
One firefighter was injured when snow fell off the tin roof and struck him in the head. He was taken to St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Wabasha, Minn., where he was treated and released, Juliot said.
The fire was difficult to fight because the cement block building had a tin roof over an older flat roof making it difficult to get to the flames, Juliot said.
Snow and icy conditions also made it difficult. A couple of firefighters did fall on the ice.
Mutual aid was provided by the Lund, Nelson and Plum City fire departments as well as Durand Ambulance Service.
Juliot said he thought up to 20 people worked in the plant, depending on the fish catch.
Schafer Fisheries, headquartered in northwestern Illinois, is the Midwest's largest processor and wholesale and retail distributor of fresh fish and frozen seafood, according to the company's website.
The business purchases and processes fresh fish caught by more than 100 commercial fishermen within a 1,000-mile radius. Schafer distributes fish throughout the U.S. and internationally with a flash-freeze process.
The company also has a collection facility in Fort Madison, Iowa.
Powers can be reached at 715-556-9018 or [email protected].
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