Posted: 7/14/04
By Barbara Brown
Smoke filled the air and the streets were filled with emergency vehicles last Friday after a fire at an auto retail and repair shop.
A spark from a piece of equipment may have caused the blaze that totalled the Rush City Auto shop along Hwy. 361 north in Rush City.
At about 7:15 p.m. July 9, the fire department received a call about a fire in the shop.
Owner Todd Johnston was next door talking to neighbor Leonard Stock when the fire started.
He said he ran into the shop and started grabbing keys to vehicles parked in the lot. Neighbors rushed out to help him move the cars out of harmís way.
ìThat night, it seemed like we waited for an hour for the fire department to get there,î Johnston said. ìAnd then I found out after the fact that they were there in only three minutes.
ìThey did a great job. And the Chisago County Sheriffís Office did a great job.î
Johnston said the sheriffís deputies who responded to the fire pitched in and helped move vehicles to another lot just to the north of the Rush City Auto shop.
The Harris and Pine City fire departments also responded.
Some firefighters got to the scene so quickly they were not able to fully outfit themselves in turn-out gear and managed hoses in their regular clothes.
The only injury of the night was a minor injury to Johnstonís right thumb.
Stock said he was amazed at the activity that resulted from the fire.
ìThere was so much smoke and so many fire trucks and vehicles that cars were coming up the road and they couldnít get through because they couldnít even see,î Stock said.
Johnston said the building was a total loss, and that it burned hot and fast.
He is working with an insurance adjuster and said he will rebuild his shop as soon as possible.
In the meantime he will continue to do business from a temporary location.
Johnston said he is getting a construction trailer to use as an office on the lot just north of the shop. He can be contacted at his regular number, (320) 358-3800.
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