The Madison Fire Department has wrapped up its investigation into what led to a deadly house fire last week. Investigators determined it started in the screened-in porch area towards the rear of the home. They narrowed it down to two possibilities: a possible electrical fault or improperly discarded smoking materials.
- PUB DATE: 6/9/2020 11:45:31 AM - SOURCE: WMTV NBC 15 Madison

After 237 tests on Monday, COVID-19 testing continued on Tuesday at Western Technical College. The focus for day two, however, was on front line first responders like police, fire, and other emergency workers. The La Crosse County Department of Health joined with the Wisconsin National Guard to staff the free testing site.
- PUB DATE: 6/9/2020 7:18:41 AM - SOURCE: WXOW-TV ABC 19 La Crosse

Officials have temporarily closed the visitor's center at the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial after vandalism last week. A firefighter reported Friday that someone had painted "Black Lifes Matter" on a pillar at the memorial and written things in the sign-in book at the visitor's center, said Jim Luty, Firefighters Memorial president.
- PUB DATE: 6/9/2020 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune

Firefighters have determined that a weekend fire at an apartment building was caused by a heater possibly coming in contact with towels hanging in a bathroom. Firefighters were dispatched to a fire at an apartment building in the 3700 block of Karstens Drive shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday following a call reporting smoke coming from the second floor of the building, according to an incident report.
- PUB DATE: 6/8/2020 2:43:57 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

At 12:45 p.m. Monday, the Racine Fire Department was actively fighting a blaze on a two story home on the 2100 block of Clarence Avenue, just north of Washington Park Golf Course and west of the Root River. The fire department initially responded to the fire around noon, when heavy flames could be seen coming from the home's kitchen windows.
- PUB DATE: 6/8/2020 1:46:08 PM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

Suamico Firefighters assisted in rescue a few raccoon cubs Monday morning. Fire Chief Joe Bertler tells WFRV Local 5 he received a call from Animal Control asking if some of his crew could assist in rescuing some cubs from the tree they were stuck in. According to Joan Van De Wettering, one cub had fallen out of her neighbor’s tree Saturday.
- PUB DATE: 6/8/2020 1:43:49 PM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV CBS 5 Green Bay

It was a rescue to remember for Fort Atkinson firefighters Monday morning when a fawn got caught in the basement area of a home that is still under construction. The fire department shared a couple pics of the fawn on its Facebook page as well as a video of them getting the baby deer out. The video shows two firefighters with a large tarp or blanket trying to capture the white-speckled deer.
- PUB DATE: 6/8/2020 7:50:39 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

One person was seriously injured in two-vehicle crash Saturday along Hwy. 16. The La Crosse Fire Department responded to the crash about 9 p.m. along Hwy. 16, near La Crosse Memorials. Firefighters extricated a person trapped inside one of the vehicles, who was later transported to Gundersen Health System.
- PUB DATE: 6/7/2020 10:36:05 AM - SOURCE: Lacrosse Tribune

People living in a north side apartment are working on finding temporary living arrangements after a fire damaged their home Saturday morning. The Madison Fire Department responded to the fire at 11:03 a.m. after someone living at the apartment building on the 3700 block of east Karstens Drive noticed heavy smoke on the second floor.
- PUB DATE: 6/7/2020 8:44:51 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Milwaukee firefighters battled a fire in the historic Colby-Abbot building near N. Milwaukee Street and E. Mason Street Sunday morning, June 7 around 4:15 a.m. Crews found the building fully engulfed in flames and increased the initial two-alarm response to a three-alarm response. A defensive approach was used to get the fire under control just before 7 a.
- PUB DATE: 6/7/2020 6:44:25 AM - SOURCE: WITI-TV Fox 6 Milwaukee

A man died in an early Saturday morning house fire, fire officials reported. Racine firefighters were dispatched at 2:56 a.m. to a report of a structure fire at 1327 Rapids Drive. Fire officials said the "stubborn" blaze caused significant damage to the single-family, two-story home. An adult male was found inside the home and had succumbed to fire-related injuries.
- PUB DATE: 6/6/2020 9:39:28 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

Prosecutors have charged two people with arson after a fire at a community policing house in Racine. According to a criminal complaint, Justin Hernandez and Kylie Gelmi were both seen on video setting fire to the house Monday. The two are not from Racine. "Anyone who is from this community would not do that," Police Chief Art Howell said Tuesday.
- PUB DATE: 6/4/2020 9:46:24 PM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

A frightening situation unfolded Wednesday night on La Crosse’s north side. Emergency crews responded to a call of a little girl who was drowning near Black River Beach at approximately 6:30 p.m. “303. Traffic, Black River Beach on Rose Street for a baby just pulled out of the water. CPR in progress,” said a response caller.
- PUB DATE: 6/4/2020 4:37:04 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Could the end be near for a natural treasure, most likely hundreds of years old, in the Town of Stockbridge in Calumet County? That's the question being asked following Tuesday night's storms when that landmark was damaged. The towering cottonwood tree in Lakeside Cemetery in Stockbridge is a local landmark.
- PUB DATE: 6/4/2020 3:42:22 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

Typically, Western Lakes Fire District will assist people during trying and difficult times. But in May, the fire district took part in a positive experience for everyone involved. Town of Lisbon firefighter Justin Sayre had been dating Kelly Cook, a Summit resident and nurse, for nearly two years.
- PUB DATE: 6/4/2020 8:04:39 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Metered Site

Two people are dead and two others are injured after a house fire in Madison. According to the Madison Fire Department, the call came in at 3:15 a.m. for a fire on the 2100 block of Seminole Highway. Chief Steve Davis shared that the flames were huge when crews got to the scene. The fire was focused at the back of the home.
- PUB DATE: 6/4/2020 4:39:03 AM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

The Sparta Area Fire District responded to a garage fire believed to have been started by a lightning strike. The Department received a call at 7:06 Tuesday, June 2, from Hammer Road in Sparta. Residents reported a tree had fallen on the garage roof and a short time later a lightning strike hit the garage.
- PUB DATE: 6/3/2020 9:56:28 AM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

A couple will now have to deal with smoke damage after a small fire broke out on the same day they purchased a house. Around 7:45 p.m. Monday, the Madison Fire Department responded to the 3000 block of Stevens Street after a neighbor called 911 about the smell of smoke coming out of a nearby house. According to firefighters, they quickly discovered black smoke was coming from the base of a refrigerator in the house’s kitchen.
- PUB DATE: 6/3/2020 7:56:37 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV CBS 3 Madison

First responders have had to press ahead with business as usual despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Lt. Brent Jones, a 20-year veteran of the Milwaukee Fire Department, said changes to the department's daily operations have been minimal. Firefighters are wearing masks and try to maintain social distancing while out on calls.
- PUB DATE: 6/3/2020 6:55:42 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-TV NBC 4 Milwaukee

Three men were arrested Tuesday in connection with a house fire on Dixon Street. A 21-year old Appleton man, a 21-year-old Little Chute man and a 20-year-old Hollandtown man are suspected of breaking into the house early Monday morning and setting items on fire, according to Kaukauna police. Kaukauna fire and police were called to the abandoned home around 3:30 a.
- PUB DATE: 6/3/2020 3:58:58 AM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com