Rusk County Farm Supply mill to be razed due to New Year’s Eve fire damage

Current bulk feed and custom order patrons have been redirected to Cloverbelt Lumber and Feed or their feed mill of choice.

Future plans for the feed mill are undetermined. 

“It is structurally unstable,” Office Manager Shaina Spooner said. “We had structural engineers come out who said it is unsound.”

The storefront continues to services customers with floor stock feed, lawn and garden, seed, fertilizer, and pet foods; as well as propane customers for new customer accounts, order requests, paying bills or customer service.

“We will be rebuilding,” Spooner said. “We don’t have exact plans yet.”

Crews from four area fire departments battled the smoky structure fire in the city’s downtown on New Year’s Eve. A 911 caller advised Rusk County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center there was black smoke between the offices and feed mill of the business, which has a shop on the east side of the building and attached feed mill on the west side of the structure.

A responding law enforcement officer advised flames were visible on the west side of the building.

The Ladysmith Fire Department responded at about 8:15 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 31, to the business, 200 Worden Ave. Dispatch records show the Ladysmith, Bruce, Sheldon and Weyerhaeuser fire departments being responded simultaneously.

Firefighters entered from the store portion of the building and were able to contain the fire in the mill area, keeping flames from spreading to the attached main building.

The fire was reported under control and contained at 10:16 p.m., about 2 hours after the initial call.

The Ladysmith Fire Department was on the scene until 10:55 p.m., about 2.5 hours, on New Years Eve.

“The cause of the fire is thought to be a heat lamp that was located in that area of the building and in use,” Fire Chief Kyle Gibbs said.