On Monday, April 24, the Hastings Fire Department responded to a fire underway in a commercial building on Hogan Avenue in Vermillion Township. The business, Srills Products suffered damage estimated to be nearly $30,000 due to fire that involved the office area of the business, including exterior walls and ceiling areas. According to Hastings Fire Chief Mike Schutt, several small fires were problematic as they continued to burn inside the insulation in the attic area. The fire was contained the wall and ceiling area with the cause of the fire still under investigation. Chief Schutt noted that due to the efforts of his department as well as assistance by Miesville Fire and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Department, there were no injuries to firefighters or occupants. He estimated that 1 million dollars in property was saved as a result of the response. The office area sustained major damage, but the manufacturing area did not. Srills Products employees 14 people and manufacture Pet and Ranch products, Eco-friendly non-toxic insecticides and pesticides. The attached picture shows Captain Dale Schoeppner and Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Boyd during roof top operations.
