Passerby reports fire at Euhardy Sales

By Scott Bellile

An early-morning fire damaged the interior of a lawn mower store north of New London on Sunday, Jan. 3.

At 6:28 a.m. Sunday, New London Fire Department was dispatched to Euhardy Sales and Service, located at N6463 U.S. Highway 45 in the Town of Lebanon. A passerby reported the building was burning while the shop was closed, New London Fire Captain Don Conat said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries, but Conat said the interior is damaged and some inventory was destroyed.

“There’s extensive damage to the building,” Conat said.

Business owners John and Karen Euhardy were home next door at the time, and their home wasn’t affected.

Firefighters from Hortonville-Hortonia, Bear Creek and Shiocton assisted at the scene. New London’s Salvation Army provided coffee and food to helpers and victims.

The fire originated in the office area and parts room and worked its way up to the roof.

“The flames were blowing out there like a blow torch,” Conat said.

Dennis Everson, a neighbor and customer of the Euhardys, said flames shot in the air as firefighters cut open the roof. He said he was relieved no one was inside the building when the fire started.

“At least they’ve got their house, but now they’ve lost their business,” Everson said.

John said he was asleep next door when his son called him and told him his store was burning. It wasn’t a good start to the new year, John said.

John’s wife Karen said they were lucky the passerby called in the fire when they did, or it could have been worse.

The fire is another recent setback to the family, Karen said. Her grandson Casey was injured in a workplace explosion during the summer that left 60 percent of his body covered in third-degree burns.

“I thought 2016 was going to be better,” Karen said.

John and Karen’s daughter-in-law Angie said the family was able to come over and offer support, and the family is blessed nobody was hurt.

Karen said it’s too soon to know the future of the 38-year-old business, but she believes John will want it to continue whether it’s rebuilt on site or moved down the road.

The Euhardys’ fire is the second structure fire in the New London area over New Year’s weekend. A pellet stove fire destroyed a home at N4333 Larry Road on Friday, Jan. 1.