This morning’s thunderstorm led to two calls to the Merrill Fire Department. 

The first was received at 8:33 for a report of an electrical box on fire on Duginski Road.  Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that a telephone utility box had been struck by lightning and was on fire.  About 100 gallons of water was used to extinguish the blaze. 

While the fire department was out on that call, another call came in reporting a vehicle on fire at Kwik Trip.  As it turned out, there was no fire; it was steam from the exhaust after the van had gone through some puddles during the heavy downpour.