Firefighters are on the scene of a Wednesday morning fire that destroyed the public works garage in Laurium. Due to overwhelming support from local municipalities and private companies, streets were cleared despite Thursday’s blizzard. (Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette)

LAURIUM — The Wednesday fire that destroyed the village’s public works garage, and the equipment and vehicles inside, has brought a huge response from neighboring municipalities and private companies alike, just in time for Thursday’s blizzard.

“The streets got plowed,” Village Trustee Jenn Jenich-Laplander said. “We have a tentative agreement in place to rent equipment from various municipalities and agencies, so we’re extremely thankful for that.”

Jenich-Laplander said the village is also thankful to the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Houghton County Road Commission, who have been assisting with the trunklines.

“I would like to thank the tremendous support of our community and the numerous other communities throughout the Copper Country,” Village Manager Ian Lewis said in a social media post on Thursday. “Thank you City of Hancock, City of Houghton, Keweenaw County Road Commission, Houghton County Road Commission, MDOT, Calumet Township, North Houghton Water and Sewer Authority, B&B Contracting, Kalcich Contracting, and other entities for offering snow removal equipment, garbage removal assistance, and storage facilities in our time of need.”

On Friday morning, the state fire marshal was on scene and began his investigation into the cause of the fire, Jenich-Laplander said, adding the village will know more in the coming weeks.

Jenich-Laplander said there is still no certainty as to the extent of the damage the fire had on the vehicles that were parked in the garage at the time of the fire.

“We have to wait until we receive a determination from the fire marshal on what equipment is still useful and what is not,” she said. That includes the village’s garbage truck.

Trash pickup in the village will resume Tuesday morning, she said, but Thursday’s pickup will be moved to Friday.

“That schedule is temporary until we get a better solution,” Jenich-Laplander said.

The Gipp Ice Arena will remain closed at least until Saturday morning, she said, contingent on whether the fire marshal concluded his investigation on Friday. Due to the proximity of the arena to the DWP building, the arena is within the perimeter of the fire scene.

The area remains barricaded. Anyone found entering the fire scene without permission will be cited.

Lewis said the village is grateful for the tremendous support being offered.

“Thank you to the many businesses and agencies that have helped provide food and other aid to the numerous employees working around the clock trying to find answers to our community’s devastating loss,” he said in his social media post.

“All of us here at the Village of Laurium appreciate all your acts of kindness.”