MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A Friday night blaze consumes a historic building in downtown Menasha.
The fire started on the roof of the Brin Theatre downtown and was first reported around 5:30.
Neighbors describe the scene to FOX 11 as scary.
“I ran in there and said ‘grab what you can the buildings on fire,” said John Anthony Summers who lives across the street.
Summers said he didn’t think twice before running into the building.
The historic building recently had seven apartments and multiple businesses, but residents of Menasha can remember tons of different things that have been in the building.
“This is where you went bowling this is where you saw a movie,” said Steve Krueger resident and historian. “It was one of the main epicenters of the city.”
Krueger said the Brin building, though not the oldest, was the last historic building in the city.
“It’s really devastating for the businesses and the residents,” he said. “I’m just hoping that the community comes together.”
Neenah-Menasha Fire Chief Kloehn tells FOX 11 the age of the building made it difficult to put out the fire.
“It spread so quickly without any fire stops.”
He said that could also make it hard to tell exactly where the fire started.
“Then you have the roof collapse and that hinders some of the investigation.”
An engineer will go through the building Monday to determine the fire’s cause and the buildings condition.
The Red Cross is helping those forced out of their homes.
