FORT ATKINSON, Wis. --
Crews from 10 fire departments were needed to battle a massive fire that destroyed a garden center in Fort Atkinson and forced nearby businesses to evacuate Wednesday.
The fire broke out just before 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Blodgett Garden Center in the 1200 block of Janesville Avenue.
Several hundred people had to leave because of possible toxic fumes from fertilizer burning at the garden center. A theater, a motel and a gas station were evacuated after the fire broke out.
Authorities said no injuries were reported.
Firefighters began going door-to-door a little after 5 p.m., telling residents to stay inside because of air quality concerns.
Fire officials said a few more nearby businesses were closed Wednesday evening, including Shopko and a bowling alley, because the wind shifted and there are concerns about air quality.
Fort Atkinson Fire Capt. Mark Schoenleber said hazmat teams are at the scene.
Schoenleber said the wooden building was destroyed. He said the fire is under control but crews will stay at the scene Wednesday night to put out hot spots.
Officials are monitoring air quality, but they said as long as smoke is in the air, residents won't be in the clear.
Reports of the fire at the well-known Fort Atkinson business came in just before 1 p.m.
"It was like a big black cloud up above us. Even with the sun out you could see the big shadow and everything," said Jim Rossa, who witnessed the fire.
Fire officials said they initially thought they had the fire under control, until firefighters went inside with heat-detecting cameras.
"They encountered heavy, heavy smoke. They checked the ceiling for temperature readings and they were in excess of 800 degrees at that time. So we knew the fire had already traveled up into the attic area," said Fort Atkinson Fire Chief Tom Emrick.
Toxic herbicides and pesticides burned inside the building and were released into the air, and the Department of Natural Resources and a hazardous materials team from Racine will determine how the toxic materials will affect the environment.
"There will be a lingering concern on our part as well, once we talk to the DNR about the amount of runoff. We were flowing in excess of 3,000 gallons of water a minute," Emrick said.
Officials said they expect any air quality concerns to dissipate with the smoke.
Those who spent the afternoon watching the blaze said it's something they'll never forget.
"You could feel the heat from it. One of the firemen asked us to tell the lady in here to turn the pumps off on the gas station," Rossa said.
Officials said the water runoff from the fire will not reach the Rock River, instead heading to a reservoir a few hundred yards away.
Once firefighters get some more water on the building and cool it down, investigators will get inside and take a look around.
There is no word yet on the cause of the fire.
Fort Atkinson is midway between Madison and Milwaukee.
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