On Wednesday, April 19, 2006 a fire broke out at a home in Merrill. A neighbor spotted the blaze and called 911 at 2:50 pm.
When firefighters from the Merrill Fire Department arrived on the scene, the home was already engulfed in flames.
Firefighters from the Town's of Russell and Pine River Fire Department arrived a short time later to help Merrill battle the blaze and provide tanker support.
The Merrill DNR Fire Ranger also fought a fire in the pine needles and trees that surrounding the property and preventing the fire spreading to the home west of the fire scene.
After an interview with Lincoln County Sheriff's Investigators and Merrill Fire Department officials, the home owner advised a candle might have been left burning in the home.
No one was injured in the blaze. The house was a total loss.