Fire at St. Croix Storage & Transfer
Firefighters from across the metro battled a large warehouse fire in North Hudson for much of the day Friday.
The blaze at the St. Croix Storage & Transfer facility was noticed about 11 p.m. Thursday. Crews from as many as 30 fire departments helped battle the fire and tend to remaining hot spots throughout the day Friday, officials said.
The cause was unknown, Hudson Fire Chief James Frye said. No one was injured battling the blaze, though firefighters were hampered by freezing temperatures. "The weather has been a big factor on how long we can be out here soaking wet," Frye said.
The streets adjacent to the building were lined with firetrucks from various Minnesota and Wisconsin fire departments. Charred loading equipment could be seen through the warehouse's fallen walls, and debris was strewn along a side of the 150,000-square-foot building. Smoke was billowing from the warehouse as a Stillwater Fire Department ladder unit shot water on the building. The warehouse, at 239 Monroe St. N., houses cardboard and plastics, Frye said.
Police responded to the scene about 11 p.m. Thursday following reports of an odor of smoke and found smoke rising from the building. When firefighters arrived, heavy smoke and flames were emanating from the warehouse. Firefighters attempted to enter the building, but ventilation was difficult. They pulled back from the fire and fought it defensively through the morning, said Frye. "It's the biggest one in a while," he said of the blaze.
Update -- Business owners comment on North Hudson fire
Dan Barber, owner of St. Croix Storage and Transfer, and former owner and current consultant John Schommer said the business will survive and both were appreciative to all the firefighters and departments that battled the blaze Thursday night and Friday.
"I got called at about 11 p.m., which I think was about the same time as the fire department," said Barber. "We don't have a clue as to how it started. They have not been able to get in the building yet."
Barber was on the scene shortly after being called Thursday night and was still there nearly 12 hours later on Friday morning. Schommer said a state fire marshal is coming to Hudson to investigate the cause of the fire.
Schommer, longtime owner of St. Croix Storage and Transfer, said a total of 28 departments from the twin Cities, eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin were involved in battling the North Hudson fire.
"I received a call about 10:30 p.m.," Schommer said. "I understand that when the fire department arrived, flames were shooting out of the building."
Schommer said that the building destroyed in the fire had about 50,000 square feet of storage space. In total, St. Croix Storage has 130,000 square feet in the old rail shop business park.
"About 80,000 square feet are still intact," Schommer said.
The content of the burned building was about 90 percent card board boxes, stored there by various clients. The content contributed to the stubbornness of the blaze. Also lost in the blaze were four semis and a small number of plastic products.
Schommer purchased the business in 1977 from Carol and Bill Heller. The business dates back to 1953. He sold the business in 2007 to Barber, but remains involved as a consultant.
"The biggest thing, however, is the work of the fire fighters," Schommer said. "My heartfelt and sincere thanks go to all those who helped fight the fire in below zero weather. I can't say enough."
Barber also expressed his appreciation to the fire fighters.
"I guess the main thing is I want to express my gratitude to the fire department and all the calls offering help and support that are coming in," said Barber. "Jim Frye and the Hudson Fire Department were amazing."
"Every time I turned around another unit showed up from another town," said Barber.
The pumpers lined up to haul water to the site that is still smoldering 12 hours after the blaze began.
"There are backhoes here now tearing the building down," said Barber, at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Schommer said the building, owned by St. Croix Ventures, and the business itself are insured.
