Fire destroys Nisswa business

The Nisswa Fire Department was called at 4:11 a.m. to a building on fire on the former Boberg Lumber property, just north of Wendy's in Nisswa off of Highway 371.

Nisswa Fire Chief Shawn Bailey said firefighters were on a call for a gas smell in Merrifield when the structure fire was reported. Firefighters went straight to Boberg Lumber and the building was engulfed in flames and smoke. Firefighters from Pequot Lakes and Mission fire departments assisted in extinguishing the fire, but despite their efforts, the wood building was destroyed. The estimated damage is $60,000.

Bailey said the cause of the fire is undetermined. Minnesota State Fire Marshal Mark Germain was on scene Tuesday investigating what was left of the debris.

Carl Boberg, who owns the property, said Boberg Lumber closed a few years ago and one of the buildings on the property is being rented as a beauty shop. Boberg said his nephew manages the building. Boberg said his nephew called him around 5:30 a.m. to inform him about the fire.

"When I got here the firefighters were here and this is what it looked like," Boberg said as he pointed to the charred remains of the building. "There is nobody in there that we know of. They haven't found anybody. There wasn't supposed to be anybody in there. It is a barbershop and not a place to stay. The concern (came from) the barbershop owner, whose son wasn't accounted for and they thought he may be in there."

Firefighters made sure no one was in the burning building and law enforcement searched the property trying to locate the man. Nisswa Police Chief Craig Taylor said the man was later located in Nisswa and was arrested on unrelated charges.

Firefighters were on scene until 7:37 a.m. and about 25 firefighters responded. The temperature was 11 below zero at the time.

The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office also assisted at the scene.