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The Luverne Fire Department spent several hours on New Year’s Eve at the scene of a fire on Edgehill Street in Luverne.
Smoke was billowing out of the building, owned by Freda Fransman, when firefighters arrived, and Fire Chief David Van Batavia said crews were cautious about possible flammables stored inside.
Fransman operates a painting and wood staining and varnishing business, and Van Batavia said firefighters were aware of the building contents and decided to let the fire burn itself out somewhat.
“It was pretty much doing that when we got there,” he said. “We knew no one was inside.”
Firefighters later broke through the side of the building in order to extinguish the blaze.
Fransman told the Star Herald Tuesday that the cause of the fire is still unknown.
“The weird thing is that the lids were still on most of the more flammable stuff,” she said.
She said she and her workers were in the process of finishing 35 door units for a Cleveringa Construction project, and there were several other doors and miscellaneous projects also destroyed in the blaze, in addition to most of her equipment.
“I have good insurance on other people’s stuff,” she said. “For now it looks like there’s nothing worth salvaging.”
She said adjusters were coming Wednesday to estimate losses.
“I’m just thankful no one was there and no one was hurt,” she said, adding that she was grateful for prompt response by Luverne firemen.
The fire was reported around 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, and crews remained on the scene for a couple of hours.
The losses are unknown, as is the condition of the building.