Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Richmond Marine & Sports Burns


Recommended Posts

As taken from the St Cloud Times:

RICHMOND — Fire destroyed Richmond Marine & Sports this morning.

A spark from static electricity ignited gasoline that was being transferred from a boat to a container, according to Fire Chief Chuck Martin who is also part owner of the business.

Five employees were inside the business when the fire started. They tried to put out the fire with extinguishers but it spread to the roof.

The call came in at 8:26 a.m. The building is at 45-Fourth Ave. in Richmond.

Cold Spring and Rockville firefighters were also on the scene.

The fire started in the shop and spread throughout the building.

Martin estimated the damage at $800,000 to $900,000. Firefighters are tearing down what’s left of the building and then the rubble will be sprayed with foam.

----------------------

Hopefully no one from here lost their boat in this deal crazy.gif What a lousy time (if there ever is a good time) for a fire!

marine_man

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, talk about terrible news. I hope that everyone is ok.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

That's terrible news. frown.gif

At least everyone got out safely.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No peeps killed is the key...All that other stuff,hey, that is what insurance is for wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN

Definately a sad day for Richmond residents. Richmond Marine was a place of alot of memories for me. Chuck and the guys at Richmond Marine are great guys who are always willing to help you out with a smile. I am glad no one got hurt and I hope in time they rebuild.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow! Sorry to hear that. I always stop in when I'm up that way. Bought a jon boat from them a few years ago. frown.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would like to add that it was the service station (the old retail store about 10 years ago) that burned.

I don't believe the fire affected the retail store area at all.

I drove by there last night, and it looked like a total loss. frown.gif

They run a great business, I hope they will rebuild.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They do a great job and have a great crew of guys. Sad sight to see last night on my way home.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I drove by there as it was burning yesterday am and it looked like a lost cause at that point. I am a bit surprised that the loss was estimated that high. Looked like a pretty old bld to me-

Michael

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RICHMOND — A fire that caused almost $1 million in damage hit close to home for Richmond firefighters Monday: It destroyed part of their fire chief's business.

Firefighters were called at 8:26 a.m. to the service center of Richmond Marine and Sports, which is owned by Fire Chief Chuck Merten and Tim Peters. The building is at 45 Fourth St. SE.

Merten was working when the fire started. A spark from static electricity or a water pump starting ignited vapor from gasoline that was being transferred from a boat to a container, Merten said.

Two customer boats and a new pontoon were in the building, Merten said. He estimated the damage at about $900,000 for the building and its contents.

The building is a total loss. No one was injured.

When the fire started, Merten and employees tried to put it out with fire extinguishers, but it quickly spread to the ceiling. Six employees, including Merten, were in the building when the fire started.

About 50 firefighters from Richmond, Rockville and Cold Spring departments responded to the scene.

Firefighters dumped up to 100,000 gallons of water on the building, Merten said. Firefighters also used foam to cool hot spots.

Firefighters tried to salvage what they could from the office area. Computers and drawers from file cabinets were taken from the building and set on the side of the road.

The building's roof caved in, and firefighters began pulling down walls that were still standing.

Merten said he became a partner in the business in 1980, and he has been a Richmond firefighter since 1982. He has been fire chief for three years.

Richmond Marine and Sports will continue to operate. The service center will temporarily be set up in the sales building, which is up the hill from the building that burned Monday, Merten said.

Merten and Peters were discussing the details of rebuilding the service center Monday afternoon

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.