Grove City shed, tractor fire under investigation

GROVE CITY -- A Wednesday afternoon fire that destroyed a tractor and shed filled with woodchips is under investigation by the Meeker County Sheriff's Office.

According to Sheriff Jeff Norlin, deputies and fire crews from Grove City, Atwater and Litchfield were dispatched around 4:15 p.m. to a large shed fire at 56110 US Highway 12, Grove City.

The shed was filled with woodchips.

The preliminary investigation indicates a tractor that was inside the shed caught fire and in the process of being driven out of the shed caught some of the chips on fire. Attempts to put out the fire were not successful prior to the 911 call. The dimensions of the shed are approximately 75 feet x 300 feet.

The owner of the shed, Dale Hoerchler, estimated the value of the tractor at approximately $75,000. The damage to the shed to be approximately $250,000, and that there was at least $50,000 worth of woodchips that were destroyed.

No one was injured in the incident.