March 19--A Mina business caught fire Sunday night, bringing Ipswich Fire Department firefighters to the scene to battle a blaze that lasted for a few hours, officials said.
A fire at Montana's Bar on Main Street in Mina was called in around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, said Mike Heinz, Ipswich fire chief.
Heinz estimated the travel time between Ipswich and Mina -- a distance of around 16 miles -- took 12 minutes or more because of icy roads. By the time the fire department arrived, the building was fully engulfed, Heinz said.
"It got cold, real fast and icy around there," Heinz said. "When the wind switched last night, it really took a turn for the worse last night."
Firefighters were able to contain the fire by 12:30 a.m. before wind speeds picked up, Heinz said. But there was still some concern over the burned building. Firefighters stayed overnight to watch over the burn debris, he said.
"With winds and stuff, we just wanted to watch it," Heinz said.
Leland Treichel, Edmunds County emergency manager, said the entire structure is gone.
There were no injuries related to the fire, but one firefighter slipped and twisted his ankle, he said.
The official cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but Heinz said it was likely electrical.
He added temperatures dropped quickly because of the wind chill.
While the fire was put out in the early hours, some Ipswich firefighters remained until noon Monday to make sure the fire didn't restart, Heinz said.
Other agencies that helped were Ipswich Ambulance Service, NorthernWestern Energy, Edmunds County Sheriff's Office, Edmunds County Highway Department and Glacial Lakes Energy.
Copyright 2013 - American News, Aberdeen, S.D.
