Sheriff: Meeker County Business Heavily Damaged In Fire

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A west central Minnesota trucking company suffered extensive damage in a fire Tuesday afternoon, according to the Meeker County Sheriff's Office.

Fire departments from Grove City, Atwater, Litchfield and Eden Valley were called at about 1:08 p.m. to the 561000 block of Highway 12 for a fire at D and D Ventures. When crews arrived, there was an active fire in wood shavings inside a 75' by 300' storage shed.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal also responded to the scene.

There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire, but business owner Dale Hoerchler said the damaged caused by the blaze is estimated at between $250,000 and $300,000.

Authorities said it appears the fire started with a faulty bearing on a conveyer that was being used to load wood shavings into trucks.