EPB weighing whether to reopen pay station after car catches fire in drive-through

Contributed photo / A car fire at an EPB pay station at 830 Eastgate Loop on the early morning of Dec. 15, 2024, caused damage to the building and sent the occupant to the hospital with burns. Contributed photo / A car fire at an EPB pay station at 830 Eastgate Loop on the early morning of Dec. 15, 2024, caused damage to the building and sent the occupant to the hospital with burns.

By David Floyd December 20, 2024 3 min read

EPB is uncertain if it will fully reopen a pay station at 830 Eastgate Loop after a car caught fire in the drive-through early Sunday morning.

Ryan Keel, EPB’s president of energy and communications, said customers can still access the payment kiosk near the entrance, but most of the building is closed. The majority of the damage occurred to the outside of the station, he said, although smoke did get inside.

“We’re going to have to do some repair, and I’m not sure exactly what that’s going to entail,” Keel said.

Keel said EPB is planning a slight renovation to its lobby downtown, and the utility may choose to offer some kind of service at the building that could replace the Brainerd pay center. However, officials haven’t finalized any decisions, he said, and they’re not ready to officially shut down the center.