Fire marshal: Fireworks caused Zumbrota fire

June 10--ZUMBROTA -- A Zumbrota man's livelihood went up in flames over Memorial Day weekend, putting the future of a major downtown business in doubt.

However, the situation might become a lot more complicated.

Multiple suspects -- who have been identified but are not in custody -- soon might face criminal charges for accidentally starting the blaze with illegal fireworks shot off near Agri-Tech Industrial Services, according to a preliminary report by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office and the Zumbrota Police Department. A press release issued by the police department doesn't list what form of fireworks caused the fire, but it listed the following as prohibited: firecrackers, bottle rockets, missiles, roman candles, mortars and shells.

Agri-Tech, founded in 1982 by Steve Groth and located at 580 First St. W., does mechanical work on trucks and large agricultural equipment, primarily for area farmers.

Four trucks belonging to customers and two of Groth's personal trucks were inside four adjoining buildings when the fire started about 2 a.m.May 24. They were all lost. Between the buildings, vehicles and repair equipment, Groth estimated the blaze set him back $1.2 million.

He hasn't received any compensation from insurance yet, but he said his insurance plan won't cover the full amount.

"I lost a fortune here," Groth said. "It was very devastating to stand across the street and watch everything you've built for 30 years go up in flames in just a few minutes."

Names of the suspects are being withheld until the final incident report is released, but Groth said he has been told the suspects are three young men. Zumbrota police officer Robert Jarrett said the report could be available later this week, though a spokesperson for the Fire Marshal's Office said state law prohibits any discussion of the investigation until a final report has been filed.

The Goodhue County Attorney's Office, once it receives the necessary paperwork, will be responsible for deciding whether criminal charges are warranted. County Attorney Steve Betcher said Monday that additional legwork may be required of his office before making that decision.

Groth said neighbors called the police hours before the fire because people were "blowing (fireworks) up over my building, and it was coming down on top."

Groth arrived at the building, where he sometimes sleeps, with groceries around midnight and recalled smelling "something burning." However, he dismissed it as neighborhood campfires on the holiday weekend.

A few hours later, the building's fire alarm went off. It didn't take long before Agri-Tech's workshop, showroom and offices were destroyed, despite a coordinated eight-hour effort from the Zumbrota, Goodhue and Wanamingo fire departments.

"I was getting ready to go to bed, and the heat sensor started making weird noises," Groth said. "I said 'What the heck?' and ran into my back shop. It was all hazy. I opened the garage door, and it was just totally engulfed in flames."

Groth plans to remodel his warehouse, which was minimally damaged, in hopes of continuing his business.

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