A fire that heavily damaged an egg roll factory Friday, Dec. 29, in the town of Stockton remains under investigation.
Investigators from the state Fire Marshall's Office and insurance companies were at the scene Wednesday morning, Plover Fire Chief Joe Radomski said.
Authorities were called to the TakYee Products Inc. building on Highway J at 7:23 a.m., a Portage County Sheriff's Department report said. When they arrived, they found the structure, which included a residence at 4481 Highway J and the business at 4477 Highway J, engulfed in flames. No one was injured in the fire.
"The fire started in the south end of the egg roll factory in an attached apartment," Radomski said. "Two adjoining businesses received no fire damage and very minor smoke damage. Amherst and Hull fire districts responded to the fire with equipment and personnel. Heavy equipment was also brought in to help maintain the fire. The fire was under control at approximately 11:30 a.m."
Firefighters used the heavy equipment, a backhoe, to knock down the burning building and keep the blaze from spreading to nearby buildings.
At one time, the structure was a bank, Radomski said. Through the years, it had been "cobbled up together" with many false ceilings and additions, which made it difficult to fight the fire. The cooler and storage area of the factory received the brunt of the fire damage, while the production area had some smoke and water damage.
About 50 firefighters fought the blaze and were at the scene to about 5 p.m., authorities said. The Portage County Chapter of the American Red Cross provided food and hot drinks to firefighters at the scene.
Jeffrey N. Peardon is the resident of the apartment.