The area's unrelenting deep freeze caused problems for firefighters who battled a severe house fire Monday and for the family left homeless as a result. In a nearly six-hour effort in the frigid cold beginning at about 2:45 p.m., firefighters poured water on the stubborn blaze, which officials believe may have sprung from a wood-burning fireplace, on Oakdale Drive south of Lawnsdale Road in the village of Waukesha.
- PUB DATE: 2/16/2021 1:18:01 PM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

A gas station attendant and a resident heroically sprung into action when a car near some gas pumps ignited on fire on Monday afternoon. According to the Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue, on Monday, crews responded to a report of a vehicle fire near some gas pumps at a local Fleet Farm gas station in Fond du Lac.
- PUB DATE: 2/15/2021 9:42:01 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV CBS 5 Green Bay

It's been a busy winter for Milwaukee firefighters, and they were called out again Monday afternoon, Feb. 15. They battled the bitter cold while fighting a fire at Blessed Savior Church at 86th and Villard. The fire started on the second floor in an office area. As you can imagine, the cold and snow made the response much more difficult.
- PUB DATE: 2/15/2021 5:25:12 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

Portage Fire Chief Troy Haase thought his career in firefighting was over when he retired in 2020 after seven years as division chief of fire prevention and public information officer for the Fond du Lac Fire Department. But an unexpected job change for his wife meant they decided to move more quickly than anticipated and Haase would find new work to occupy his time.
- PUB DATE: 2/15/2021 4:41:22 PM - SOURCE: Portage Daily Register

A neighbor stepped up Monday morning to help firefighters reach a burning barn and put down the flames before it could reach neighboring structures. Sun Prairie Fire & Rescue Co. explained the individual used an end loader to plow a path for the fire trucks to reach the building, in the 4800 block of Town hall Dr.
- PUB DATE: 2/15/2021 1:46:11 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

The Beaver Dam Fire Department is starting to make its promised hires after voters approved a referendum in November. Beaver Dam voters approved a referendum 66 percent to 34 percent to cover six new full-time firefighter/paramedic positions, with a tax impact of $37 on a $100,000 house in the first year.
- PUB DATE: 2/14/2021 4:39:17 PM - SOURCE: Daily Citizen - Metered Site

A Racine home was caught on fire after a woman heated rubbing alcohol on the stove to use it to melt the ice on her car Sunday morning, Feb. 14. The Racine Fire Department was dispatched to a home in the 300 block of Luedtke Avenue just before 6:30 a.m. Upon arrival, fire officials found the occupants on the front porch trying to extinguish articles from inside the home that were on fire.
- PUB DATE: 2/14/2021 11:09:28 AM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

Developing overnight in Langlade County, the Antigo Fire Department tells NewsChannel 7 that crews responded to a fire at Dejno’s overnight. Fire Chief John Petroskey with the Antigo Fire Department says that there were no injuries reported but there was substantial damage to equipment inside the building.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2021 3:53:06 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

Firefighters battled a fire that spread through apartments in the 300 block of East Main Street in the village late Thursday. According Candi Scheid, a bar manager at Village View Pub at 350 East Main St., firefighters from multiple jurisdictions assisted the Twin Lakes Fire and Rescue Department, which arrived at the scene at about 9 p.
- PUB DATE: 2/12/2021 1:04:40 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News - Metered Site

At least two of the homes that recently burned on Milwaukee’s south side did not have working smoke detectors installed, Acting Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said at a news conference called this week to address fire safety. At the Wednesday news conference, Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa and Mayor Tom Barrett focused on fire safety tips and how renters and homeowners can get free smoke detectors installed in their homes.
- PUB DATE: 2/11/2021 1:32:11 PM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

VIDEO: The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office said a 17-year-old boy was arrested in another county following a house fire in Reedsburg. Emergency crews were notified about the fire Wednesday at a home along State Highway 154 in the town of Reedsburg. Everyone inside the home was able to evacuate safely, but pets were still inside when firefighters arrived, according to a release by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office.
- PUB DATE: 2/11/2021 12:40:14 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

Firefighters are battling a house fire Thursday morning on Kickbusch Street. Wausau police officials said they’re at a fire in the 1000 block of Kickbusch Street with the Wausau Fire Department. Official said the scene is active, and the roadway and block surrounding the fire is closed and residents should expect delays.
- PUB DATE: 2/11/2021 5:35:11 AM - SOURCE: Wausau Daily Herald

Gov. Tony Evers has ordered flags be flown at half-staff Friday in remembrance of a Columbia County fire inspector who died of COVID-19. David Jerald Tomlinson was a member of the Poynette-Dekorra Fire Department for over 30 years, according to a post from the department’s Facebook page. A news release said he died Dec.
- PUB DATE: 2/10/2021 7:24:30 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

A house fire in Marshall led to road closures Wednesday night on Highway 73. Dane County dispatch said it received a call at 6:21 p.m. for a report of a structure fire on Canal Road. Officials said firefighters called a box alarm, meaning agencies from several municipalities were sent to assist. The homeowner told our crew at the scene that everyone was able to evacuate the house safely, including the pets.
- PUB DATE: 2/10/2021 6:08:37 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

Fire Chief BJ DeMaa introduced a proposed “High School Fire Intern” program, along with a job description for participating students, at Tuesday night’s Waupun City Council meeting. According to a resolution summary, “As part of the fire department’s five-year strategic plan, we have identified a need to ensure our firefighter staffing model meets local needs.
- PUB DATE: 2/10/2021 4:36:05 PM - SOURCE: Daily Citizen

The Merrill Fire Department is partnering with a local hospital to help COVID-19 patients and take the pressure off a strained emergency room. The department believes it may be one of just a few in the state, and country, taking on this role. Normally, you’d only get a visit from Merrill Paramedics in an emergency.
- PUB DATE: 2/10/2021 2:38:31 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

Firefighters in Buffalo County had two house fires to deal with in the frigid cold over the weekend. The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office says crews were called to a home in the town of Nelson around 2:30 pm Sunday afternoon. The house was fully engulfed when crews got there. The people who live there were not home at the time.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2021 11:37:21 PM - SOURCE: WLAX-TV Fox 25 La Crosse

A 57-year-old Milwaukee man died Tuesday afternoon in a house fire on the south side, police said, the latest in a rash of deadly and destructive fires in the city. Milwaukee police responded to the fire about 3:30 p.m. in the 1200 block of South 21st Street, according to a news release. The fire started at one house and spread to another, police said.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2021 6:39:52 PM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Afirefighter with the “heart of a teacher” has been honored as the city of La Crosse Fire Department Firefighter of the Year. Engineer and EMT Bryon Stein was honored Feb. 2 during a virtual ceremony at the main fire station in La Crosse. “Anyone who is looking for an answer ... they seek Brian out for his leadership,” said assistant fire chief of operations Jeff Murphy.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2021 12:57:24 PM - SOURCE: Lacrosse Tribune - Metered Site

First responders pleaded with lawmakers not to let bipartisan legislation allowing them to access workers' compensation for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder linger any longer. Last year, it received overwhelming support in both chambers but failed to get a final clerical vote in the Senate before the session ended.
- PUB DATE: 2/9/2021 11:37:08 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-TV NBC 4 Milwaukee