DAZEY, N.D.-A piece of cold war history may have been destroyed by fire on Monday, April 3.
Someone spotted smoke coming out of the building a few miles north of Dazey just before 7 a.m. and called fire crews. When they arrived, the ceiling was on fire. Crews were able to knock down the flames after about an hour.
Because of the fire, smoke and water damage, the owner says the building is likely a total loss.
At one point, the building reportedly controlled dozens of missiles. The current landowner says it was called the "November Zero Launch Station."
He says his family bought it for storage in the late 1990s when the military decommissioned it, but now that piece of history could be ruined.
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While officials aren't releasing details on a cause of the fire, the owner says the building's lock was broken Sunday night, April 2. Fire crews say since the building was only used for storage, so there's no reason a fire should have started.
"We're ruling this fire suspicious for a couple obvious reasons," said Daryl Kunze of the Dazey Fire Department. "Nobody's been here, no electricity of any sort. There are a few details we're looking at right now."
The state fire marshal is also investigating.
While this historic building is damaged, the owners say they're happy one just like it is still intact near Cooperstown.
The Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site is operated by the state Historical Society, which offers tours.
