Slinger firefighters grateful for community support after battling fire for 72 hours

SLINGER, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wednesday, May 24, hot spots remain -- three days after a massive fire in Slinger.

The fire broke out Sunday, destroying Oak Creek Wood Products, a wood pallet manufacturing company.

While fire crews from across the state battled the blaze, the Slinger community offered their support to first responders.

"We felt the need to do something -- what can we do to help," said Taylor Peters.

Peters works at Apex Dental Laboratory, a place down the road from where fire hydrants were used to fill trucks taking water back to the massive fire.

"We saw the firefighters here, like they were all day filling up at the hydrants," said Peters.

Peters and her co-workers took items leftover from a party and used them to help those who help their community.

"We had cases of water left, so we just filled the coolers to make sure that they had something to drink," said Peters.

Efforts that have not gone unnoticed by the Slinger Fire Department.

"Very tired, "said Assistant Fire Chief Brad Schaefer.

The Slinger Fire Department has kept their eye on the fire for more than 72 hours.

"This fire has changed from an emergency to a nuisance," said Schaefer.

Schaefer went on to say external conditions continue to interfere with taming smoke and hot spots.

"The wind changed this morning and now it's blowing smoke to the neighbors to the back side of them, and we feel terrible about that."

But Schaefer said both he and his crew are grateful for the support shown by their community.

"When you look at the tenders that were there for hours and hours, and they brought coolers full of water, it's pretty amazing," said Schaefer.

The Slinger Fire Department is operated by all volunteers.

For more information on how you can become a volunteer firefighter, click the link here.