On the Scene

 

Department Doesn't Take Holiday Off

On Memorial Weekend, we all take some time out to remember those who sacrificed everything for our freedom.  Even on Memorial Day, people still need help.

Shortly after the finish of the Memorial Day Parade, things got busy around the firehouse.  At 10:03am, a call was recieved for a large wood pile on fire near a home.  A crew responded and quickly extinguished the fire that was threatening the house.  They worked to overhaul the wood pile and be sure the fire was out.  The crew cleared at 11:07am.

At 11:08am, dispatch reported a barn fire with hay and animals in the building.  Crews responded directly from the first fire and additional manpower was sent from the station.  On arrival, firefighters found numerous large bails of corn stalks on fire outside of a barn but very close to the buildings.  Firefighters immediately went to work protecting the buildings and saved them from serious damage.  They then put out the fire in the bails.  Additional help was needed from Randolph, Fox Lake, Waupun, and Burnett Fire Departments.

Both fires were caused by rubbish fires that the wind blew embers into the burning material.  In addition to the two fires, the department responded to 2 EMS calls during the same time.

 

 

Photos taken by Matt Weidler.

 

House Fire Adds to Busy Day

On November 10 at 9:02pm, the department was called for a house fire with heavy smoke showing at 208 E. Mill St.  The house is on the back of the block immediately across from the firestation.  As the firefighters got into the truck, they saw that flames were already starting to come out of a rear window of the home.

By the time firefighters could lay a hose line, the first floor was heavily involved.  The occupants had gotten out of the home safely and called 911 from a neighbors house.  The occupants of the home had been cooking in the kitchen and left a pan of hot oil cooking on the stove.  When it suddenly caught fire, the family evacuated the house.

Although the house was considerably damaged, the fire was held to the first floor.  Repairs were under way the next day.  The family hopes to return to the house in a couple of months.

In addition to the fire, the department responded to 7 other EMS calls during that 24-hour period.

Photos taken by Matt Weidler

 

 

 

Kennel Fire Causes Total Loss

On September 26th at 6:41pm, the department was called for a large structure fire with heavy smoke showing at the Everafter Kennel at W7786 County E, east of Beaver Dam.  Enroute to the scene, heavy smoke could be seen from several miles away.  Multiple alarms were sounded and assistance came from Burnett, Horicon, Juneau, Fox Lake, Lowell, and Waupun Fire Departments.

The first arriving engine found heavy smoke and fire had broken through the roof and most of the building was involved in fire on the interior.  Electrical arcing was present on the front and rear of the building.  At least one small LP cylinder exploded in the fire.  The departments Aerial Tower was also used in extinguishing this blaze.

The property owner managed to rescue several dogs before the fire department arrived, but 27 dogs and 1 cat perished in the blaze.  The building was a total loss.  The exact cause of the fire is undetermined and remains under investigation.

At 6:59pm, the department also responded to a motorcycle crash on County G, just south of County S.  Area residents said they heard the crash, but could not initially find the driver.  The responding EMS crew and police officers searched the surrounding fields and found the lone rider over 100 feet off the centerline of the roadway.  The driver was critically injured and transported to Beaver Dam Community Hospital where he was then flown by helicopter to the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison for treatment of the injuries.

Photos taken by Matt Weidler

 

 

 

Photos below provided by Aaron Holbrook of the Daily Citizen.  Click on the link for related articles.

 

Front St. Fire Causes Multiple Alarms

On August 15th at 4:13pm, the department responded to a report of smoke coming from a downtown structure at 208 Front St.  On arrival, the first arriving units found heavy black smoke coming from the roof.  The building involved was a 2 story commercial structure with another adjoining office building.  Due to the size and nature of the buildings involved, the department called for mutual aid from Burnett, Columbus, Fall River, Fox Lake, Juneau, Randolph, and Waupun Fire Departments as well as Juneau EMS. 

The fire orginated on the roof and started roofing tar on fire.  It spread across the roof quickly.  Once an aerial was set up, the fire was extinguished quickly.  But, the heat of the fire had gotten into a number of roof and ceiling spaces.  Those areas were tough for firefighters to reach, but they ultimately found and extinguished all of the hot spots.  Firefighters were on scene for several hours.  Juneau EMS transported one firefighter to the hospital with heat related illness.  The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental during roofing operations.

 

 

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