TOWN OF PEMBINE, Wis. — Two teenage boys have been taken into custody in relation to a fire that caused a total loss of a historical building in Pembine.
Smoldering ruins are all that’s left of the Pembine Railroad Depot, otherwise known as “The Depot” to locals, after a fire burned it to the ground. The Marinette County Sheriff’s Office says people called in around 10:45 Monday morning reporting a full-on fire at The Depot off US Highway 141.
The Sheriff’s Office, along with the Pembine Beecher Dunbar Fire Department, arrived on scene shortly after to find flames coming out of the sides and roof of the building. They then called for additional help from neighboring fire departments like the Town of Amberg.
Deputies say this is an active railroad line, but they believe the depot itself has not been used for the line in a long time. However, the community still has its memories of the depot and the history it holds.
“I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed because of that, but it’s a great community. I think they’ll get through it, but it’s hard to lose a building like that,” says Sergeant Randy Miller Marinette Co. Sheriff’s Office.
The fire also caused an electrical pole to fall onto the street. Officials had to shut down US Highway 141 for a brief time but opened it back up once the road was cleared.
Although the 14 and 16-year-old boys who deputies say are connected to the fire are in custody, they still ask that anyone with information contact the Marinette Co. Sheriff’s Office.
