Worthington business building destroyed in Thanksgiving fire

The home of a Worthington business was destroyed by fire in an early Thanksgiving Day blaze.

Worthington Fire Department Chief Trent DeGroot said Sunday afternoon that the WFD was paged at 12:14 a.m. Thursday to Tru Shine Truck Wash along Minnesota 60. DeGroot said with it being Thanksgiving, he wasn't sure how many of his firefighters would be available, so the Brewster Fire Department was dispatched for mutual aid.

The building was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived, DeGroot said. The WFD began spraying water on the front side of the building, while Brewster firefighters worked the same way at the rear side. Meanwhile, Worthington's aerial truck shot water at the top of the structure. 

DeGroot added that Mark Thier, who owns Tru Shine Truck Wash, used his excavator to peel away tin to give firefighters better access, as by the time they had arrived, no one could be sent inside. Also providing help was Ron Prins, who assisted with his payloader. The contents of the building were destroyed, including a payloader, but a combine was saved.

Firefighters remained at the scene until 6 a.m. DeGroot added that he, along with Bryan Spittle of the WFD and Thier, met with the fire marshal on Friday, and said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

DeGroot also thanked Kwik Trip for providing complimentary coffee and donuts to firefighters at the scene.