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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

ORR LANDMARK DESTROYED

Wally’s Auto burned to the ground early Monday morning

Jodi Summit
Posted 9/25/19

ORR— A longtime commercial mainstay here went up in flames early Monday, Sept. 23, leaving questions about both the future of the business and the hole it leaves in Orr’s downtown.

Wally’s …

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ORR LANDMARK DESTROYED

Wally’s Auto burned to the ground early Monday morning

Posted

ORR— A longtime commercial mainstay here went up in flames early Monday, Sept. 23, leaving questions about both the future of the business and the hole it leaves in Orr’s downtown.

Wally’s Auto has been a significant employer and key automobile sales and service center in Orr for generations, yet the building that housed the business all these years was declared a total loss following this week’s blaze.

“It’s a tragedy,” said Orr Mayor Joel Astleford. “I really hope they can rebuild. Wally’s is a real asset to our community.”

Fire departments from Orr, Cook, Crane Lake, Bois Forte, and Buyck responded quickly to the scene, but the auto service center was fully engulfed in flames when responders arrived on scene. Firefighters were able to protect the adjacent structures, although a number of vehicles that had been parked outside the building were also destroyed in the fire.

“My heart goes out to everybody involved,” said Astleford.

The fire was reported at 1:45 a.m.

“The fire departments did an unbelievable job of protecting Norman’s One Stop and Motel,” said Astleford. “It was only 20 feet from Wally’s. The closest wall actually started smoldering at one point, but they kept the fire from spreading and kept Norman’s safe.”

The night’s weather helped the firefighters keep the fire from spreading.

“The fire was really hot,” said Astleford. “But when the roof of Wally’s caved in, flames shot straight up. There was absolutely no breeze. We were really lucky.”

Orr Fire Chief Dallas Johnson said that while they deal with automotive fires regularly, this was on a much larger scale.

“We knew there were a lot of used oil and lubricants present,” he said.

“We took a defensive approach which helped keep us somewhat out of harm’s way,” he said. “And yes, quick action by the first arriving crew was key to saving Norman’s Motel.” The first firefighters on the scene were assistant chief John Barto and firefighters Patrick Hoffer and Karen Barto.

“They deployed what is called a Blitz Fire Portable Monitor with a capacity of 500 gallons per minute,” Johnson said. “This device is pre-connected to our truck and works wonderfully.”

Johnson also had praise for their mutual aid partners: Crane Lake, Cook, Bois Forte, and Buyck, for securing water supplies, and providing trucks and personnel.

Astleford noted this is the second time in recent history that Orr has lost a major business to fire.

“Everybody remembers the fire in the 90s that took out half our downtown,” he said, speaking of the fire that destroyed Mel’s IGA and the building that housed the T. Patten Cafe.

“That was a wake-up call,” he said. “Our fire fighting equipment is improved since then.” The department was also able to pump water directly from Pelican Lake, ensuring a steady supply of water all night long.

Small town tragedies tend to bring the community closer, he said. “I am very proud of the people here in Orr. They’ve reached out to Mark Mankus, offering any help he may need. And Mark knows he will get it.”

Johnson said that Tony Norman, owner of the adjacent convenience store and motel, spent the night supplying firefighters with refreshments, and opened up his parking lot area for emergency vehicles. The Orr Ambulance provided rehab operations and was on stand-by all night in case of medical emergencies. The city of Orr was also an essential partner, with Rocky Hoffman keeping the water system working throughout the fire, and city hall employees in the office manning the phones. Astleford was on the scene from start to finish, Johnson said.

“Everyone is hoping they rebuild,” he said.

Astleford also wanted to thank the Orr EMS service, which stayed on site the entire night. Luckily, no one was injured in the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Astleford said dealing with the aftermath of an industrial fire can be complicated. The fire marshal was on scene immediately after the fire. The MPCA was also in Orr, making sure no hazardous chemicals were released and that the water running off the fire scene was safe. The city’s lift station was also cleaned, and cleared as safe, Astleford said.