Fire destroys garage at long-time family-owned trucking company in Belleville

Fire destroyed a large garage, workshop, and a few remnants of a long-time, family-owned Belleville transport company.

Firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire at 2914 Mary Irene Street in Belleville at around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. The blaze at the Frerich’s Freight Line Trucking Company garage threatened surrounding buildings, said Belleville Fire Department Chief J.P. Pennet.

“I feel blessed that nobody was hurt, ...and no other property got damaged,” said William Frerichs, owner of the garage.

The trucking company originated with Frerich’s father and uncle in 1949. They started as the lone contract carrier for Eddy Paper, currently International Paper, in Belleville. Frerich’s sold out the company in September 2020, but still owns the garage.

The fire gutted the structure and its contents, leaving Frerichs with only pictures of his family’s legacy. The last remnants of that business was that big work shop, Frerichs said.

The garage was well known in Belleville, specifically to those in the trucking industry. It was kind of a meeting place where drivers would go after they were done driving. Other guys like parts guys and salesmen would also show up, Frerich’s said.

“I think people knew my building because it was a different kind of construction than most,” he said. “The building was in the middle of the neighborhood, not like most trucking companies. I don’t know if I would call it a staple of the community ...but anybody that was in and out of that paper plant (International Paper) or was in transportation, in that area knew that building and probably come by at some point or another.”

It took crews about three hours to extinguish the fire, Penet said.

The fire destroyed the workshop and garage and some remnant parts and supplies from the company, said Chief J.P. Penet, Fire Chief of the Belleville Fire Department.

“I’m a Belleville boy, born and raised, a small business guy and I felt crushed. That’s my life,” said Frerichs.

Frerichs said he doesn’t think that he will rebuild.

“I don’t know we’ll see how it goes,” Frerichs said.

The incident is currently under investigation.

This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 3:50 PM.