MONROE - A fire at Minhas Craft Brewery caused an unknown amount of damage Thursday, Nov. 21, leaving business personnel uncertain about their production schedule for the immediate future.
The Monroe Fire Department was called to the property at 2:28 p.m. following a report of fire and flames coming from the third floor of the building. All occupants were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported.
The fire apparently started when machinery used to spray foam insulation caught fire, according to Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch.
Louis Armstrong, Minhas project manager, said Thursday evening that the amount of damage to the property won't be known until it is safe to re-enter the building.
"Once we get back in we can assess what the damage is, but until we can get in and see, we won't know," he said.
"As far as bottling goes, I actually took this next week off (the schedule)," Armstrong said. "The following week might happen, but until we know what machinery is working, we won't know."
Armstrong said the fire was contained Thursday when he left the property at about 5:30 p.m. but that firefighters would "be checking things all night."
"There's a lot of nooks and crannies (to check)," he said. "But the main fire was under control early in the process."
Armstrong said he couldn't overstate the effectiveness of the Monroe Fire Department's response to the fire.
"I was working with command and with the fire chief, and my main thought is just how well the fire department works with everyone else - just how well coordinated they are, and to get it contained as they did (was impressive)."
Monroe Fire Command requested help from numerous neighboring fire departments, including New Glarus, Monticello, Freeport (city and rural), Juda, Brodhead, Orangeville and South Wayne. Fire departments remained on the scene into the evening. Officials asked people to stay out of the area as a number of streets were closed off Thursday due to the fire.
Rausch was not available for comment on the extent of the damage.
The Monroe Fire Department was called to the property at 2:28 p.m. following a report of fire and flames coming from the third floor of the building. All occupants were evacuated safely and no injuries were reported.
The fire apparently started when machinery used to spray foam insulation caught fire, according to Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch.
Louis Armstrong, Minhas project manager, said Thursday evening that the amount of damage to the property won't be known until it is safe to re-enter the building.
"Once we get back in we can assess what the damage is, but until we can get in and see, we won't know," he said.
"As far as bottling goes, I actually took this next week off (the schedule)," Armstrong said. "The following week might happen, but until we know what machinery is working, we won't know."
Armstrong said the fire was contained Thursday when he left the property at about 5:30 p.m. but that firefighters would "be checking things all night."
"There's a lot of nooks and crannies (to check)," he said. "But the main fire was under control early in the process."
Armstrong said he couldn't overstate the effectiveness of the Monroe Fire Department's response to the fire.
"I was working with command and with the fire chief, and my main thought is just how well the fire department works with everyone else - just how well coordinated they are, and to get it contained as they did (was impressive)."
Monroe Fire Command requested help from numerous neighboring fire departments, including New Glarus, Monticello, Freeport (city and rural), Juda, Brodhead, Orangeville and South Wayne. Fire departments remained on the scene into the evening. Officials asked people to stay out of the area as a number of streets were closed off Thursday due to the fire.
Rausch was not available for comment on the extent of the damage.