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A quick and aggressive response by firefighters saved the storefronts at the Bergquist complex last week, but the large warehouses in the back are likely a complete loss.
Cloquet Area Fire District Chief Jesse Buhs said the stores were connected to the warehouses by two breezeways. Both Bergquist Imports and Erbert & Gerbert's sandwich shop sustained smoke damage, but the fire didn't spread to the front.
Erbert & Gerbert's owner Al Kurtz used Facebook to thank fire suppression efforts, saying he hoped to reopen by March 20.
"We got lucky, and thanks to the fire department battling in the cold...