It will be a year in March since fire and smoke engulfed Hanson Tire Service in downtown Albert Lea, and part owner Dan Dorman said he still remembers the day it happened just as if it were yesterday.

Dorman said he was in a meeting at the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, where he is employed as executive director, when he found out about the news.

He said he got a call from the store, part-owner Kelvin Rehnelt and his father.

Since he was in a meeting, when the first call came in, he thought to himself that he would just call that person back later. But then a second and a third call came in, and he knew something wasn’t right.

His first thought was whether everyone was OK.

He was told to get down to the store, 505 E. Main St., as soon as possible.

By the time he arrived, there were many spectators and police had blocked off Main Street to passengers.

The fire, which damaged the six main service bays at the company and filled the front office and showroom with smoke, was caused from a droplight that fell, sparked and ignited the gas from a fuel pump being changed in the garage.

Three customer vehicles were also destroyed, and no one was injured.

Though the business did not have to close — as it was able to operate out of the rear service stalls of the business, which were not damaged — Dorman said the business had to replace practically everything in the main service bays and then clean and repaint the front office and showroom.

That means there’s new machinery, hoists and other equipment.

Luckily, the electrical system was safe, so it did not have to be replaced, he said.

Repairs were estimated close to $500,000.

Dorman acknowledged how easy the business’ insurance company, Cafourek & Associates, was to work with for the repairs.

The insurance company let Hanson Tire use many of its own employees to get the work done so that no one would be laid off.

“This was important to us,” he said. The company has about 15 employees.

The work was completed just two short months later.

Now, walking into the store, there’s no visible reminder the fire ever even took place.

Dorman also credited the Albert Lea Fire Department’s response time of one minute to the scene.

“We’re very fortunate to work with good people both inside and outside,” he said.

Hanson Tire is owned three ways between Junior and Wanda Dorman, Dan and Mary Jo Dorman, and Kelvin and Amy Rehnelt.

Waste Management fire update

In June 2009, two waste transfer buildings were destroyed by fire at Waste Management, 25237 755th Ave., Clarks Grove. One building was for waste transfer and the second was for recycling and waste transfer. The waste was loaded on semis, which haul it to Iowa.

The fire was speculated to have started from a hot ash or something similar from a truck that unloaded at the station, according to the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office.

Now, about seven months later, a building permit has been issued to the company with a valuation of about $924,000 for the construction of a new building that will replace the two structures destroyed by fire.

Julie Ketchum, government affairs officer with Waste Management, said the new building will be able to transfer 125 tons of trash and 25 tons of recyclables daily, along with bailing 20 tons of corrugated cardboard daily.

The building, which will be 10,000 square feet, is expected to be completed in March, Ketchum said.

“We’re just glad to be up and running again and making it easier for everyone, more convenient,” she said.

There will be no change in the workforce from the additional building.