Lee Pulaski, lpulaski@shawanoleader.com
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski The second floor of the Rustic Resort and Banquet Hall collapsed into the first floor during the fire, leaving ashes and debris. Owner Chris Dewey escaped with burns and other injuries. Two dogs were killed.
Leader Photo by Lee Pulaski Although most of the Rustic Resort was destroyed in Wednesday’s fire, this sign survived with very little noticeable damage.
The cause of the fire that destroyed the Rustic Resort and Banquet Hall in Belle Plaine on Wednesday might never be known, according to officials.
Capt. Jeff Zimmerman, fire inspector with the Shawano Area Fire Department, said the cause was being listed as undetermined.
The case remains open, officially, but unless something new turns up, it’s unlikely authorities will ever know the cause, he said.
The fire started on the second floor in the residence above the bar at W8466 Rustic Drive. Zimmerman said the damage was so great that authorities are unable to pinpoint where it started or how.
Zimmerman said owner Chris Dewey was downstairs at the time and saw smoke coming through the ceiling tiles, indicating it had been burning for a while before she spotted it.
Dewey tried unsuccessfully to rescue two dogs that were upstairs at the time, Zimmerman said.
Dewey sustained burns on her face, forearm and hands. She was the only person inside at the time.
Dewey was taken to Shawano Medical Center for treatment.
Firefighters were called about 9:40 a.m. and arrived to find the structure already engulfed in flames.
Crews were sent up to second floor, but by that time the first floor was also burning.
“We had to pull them out,” Zimmerman said.
One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters then went from an offensive to defensive posture; a situation where, Zimmerman said, “we can’t risk sending people inside.”
The second floor eventually collapsed into the first.
“It was one of the worst fires we’ve had in a while,” Zimmerman said.
Officials said the structure was a total loss.