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Wisconsin Fire News

Coon Valley firefighters believe lightning strike led to house fire

The Coon Valley Fire Department got a call for a house fire on Highway 14/61 between Shelby and Coon Valley at 6:57 a.m. Saturday. The Coon Valley Fire Department's assistant chief, Ken Phillips, said the fire was still under investigation as of Saturday morning, but the likely cause was a lightning strike that followed wires to the house.
- PUB DATE: 6/1/2019 6:50:38 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Cooking fire causes minor damage in Appleton

The Appleton Fire Department was called to the 3100 block of E. Newberry Street around 9:30 Thursday night for reports of a kitchen fire. Firefighters were told on the way that the fire was a cooking oil fire and had been partially extinguished. They found smoke in the building when they arrived. They contained the smoke and confirmed that the fire had been extinguished by a resident with a fire extinguisher.
- PUB DATE: 5/31/2019 5:42:08 AM - SOURCE: NBC 26 Green Bay

Firefighter, former EMT taps into passion in ascending ranks at Baraboo Fire Department

Baraboo has a new assistant fire chief, but he’s a familiar face who values consistency and giving back to the community in any way — be it large or small. Mark Willer said when firefighters respond to house fires, they focus on fire suppression, but welcome any chance to save even just one priceless item.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2019 3:37:46 PM - SOURCE: WISC News

Kewaskum bank significantly damaged in fire

The Westbury Bank in Kewaskum was seriously damaged in a fire Thursday morning. Fire crews say they were called to the scene near Roseland and Fond Du Lac after workers smelled smoke around 9:46 a.m. Employees got out of the building safely and firefighers were able to put out the fire. The roof of the bank is partially collapsed.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2019 11:41:51 AM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

Excavator strikes gas main causing 'substantial gas leak,' Madison fire officials say

An excavator struck a natural gas main on Madison's far west side Wednesday afternoon, officials said. The Madison Fire Department said crews responded at about 12:45 p.m. to the 9900 block of White Fox Lane after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting the smell of natural gas in the area. Firefighters created a perimeter around the leak, evacuated all construction workers from the danger zone and ordered all equipment to be shut off, officials said.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2019 10:56:31 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Milwaukee officials identify victim of fiery crash on Highway 145 near Park Place Avenueoff-ramp

The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office identified on Thursday, May 30 as 61-year-old Todd Miller of Milwaukee. The wreck happened shortly before noon on Monday, May 27 on Highway 145 near the Park Place Avenue off-ramp. The vehicle apparently struck a barrier head-on before catching fire. Milwaukee firefighters were called out to the scene to extinguish the fire.
- PUB DATE: 5/30/2019 9:07:06 AM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

Milwaukee Fire Department rescues teen who fell down embankment

The Milwaukee Fire Department rescued a 17-year-old who fell down an embankment on Wednesday. It happened around 8 p.m. near Valley Park. According to the Milwaukee Fire Department, the teen fell down the hill near the train tracks. He was assisted by firefighters and taken to Children's Hospital.
- PUB DATE: 5/29/2019 6:41:17 PM - SOURCE: WDJT-TV CBS 58 Milwaukee

Wausau breaks ground on new fire station

The Wausau Fire Department broke ground on their new fire station Thursday morning. Station 2 has served the west side of Wausau for numerous decades, but its structural deficits have proven too much for the department to overcome. The current building is located on S. 32nd Avenue, the new facility will be nearby, just south of Seymour Lane.
- PUB DATE: 5/29/2019 2:48:46 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

Firefighter fixes Madison man's wheelchair

A paramedic from the Madison Fire Department fixed his neighbor's wheelchair last weekend. Firefighter and paramedic Mike Resiman saw that one of the tires on the man's wheelchair was broken, and he could not cross the street. A Twitter post from the Madison Fire Department showed Reisman kneeling on the sidewalk as he sorted through his ambulance toolbox.
- PUB DATE: 5/28/2019 6:22:30 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Merrill Fire Department battalion chief retires after 27 years

Firefighters dedicate themselves to saving homes, businesses, and most importantly, the people in the communities they serve. An already difficult job gets even tougher when they're saving people from their home town. Merrill Battalion Chief Steve Hintze always took pride in that fact. He served his hometown for 27 years.
- PUB DATE: 5/28/2019 5:29:46 PM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

Chippewa Falls fire chief proud of work on fire station as he heads to retirement

When Mike Hepfler became Chippewa Falls EMS/fire chief in April 2014, one of his top goals was obtaining a new fire station that met the needs of the department. The existing station, connected to city hall, opened in 1952. “I had my list of goals that I wanted to accomplish in my three to five years (as chief),” Hepfler said.
- PUB DATE: 5/28/2019 5:18:10 PM - SOURCE: Chippewa Herald

Sun Prairie Fire Department will install Barr memorial statue

A bronze statue honoring a Sun Prairie firefighter who lost his life during a 2018 explosion will be placed in front of the Sun Prairie Fire Department. The Sun Prairie City Council approved a $20,000 budget amendment on May 21 to purchase and install the $30,000 commemorating the loss of Captain Cory Barr.
- PUB DATE: 5/28/2019 8:09:14 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

From Oshkosh to De Pere, downtown fires change landscape in communities during last year

All across Wisconsin, in practically every community of more than 100 people, there’s a downtown district full of cool old buildings just waiting to catch fire and burn. It happens infrequently, but when it does, it usually ends up being a fire of historic proportions that permanently changes the face of the downtown.
- PUB DATE: 5/28/2019 6:10:37 AM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune

Milwaukee Fire Department: Man dies in house fire at 16th and Hadley, no working smoke alarms inside home

Firefighters are on the scene of a fatal house fire at 16th and Hadley in Milwaukee. Officials say they were dispatched to the scene shortly after 4:30 a.m. -- and had a report of people trapped inside. Crews arrived on the scene -- and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the second floor of the home.
- PUB DATE: 5/28/2019 3:47:24 AM - SOURCE: WITI Fox Channel 6

Kaukauna: Firefighters push physical and emotional strength to honor Mitch Lundgaard

Dozens of Fox Valley residents spent Memorial Day completing a grueling test of physical and mental strength in honor of the fallen. It's called the Murph Challenge. The challenge is named for Navy Seal Lt. Michael Murphy, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2005. Kaukauna's Murph Challenge also honored fallen Appleton firefighter Mitch Lundgaard.
- PUB DATE: 5/27/2019 9:59:32 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

Three people safe following water rescue on Chippewa River

The Eau Claire Fire Department was dispatched for a water rescue this afternoon. Units responded to an area of the Chippewa River near the UWEC foot bridge for a report of several people separated from their kayaks and in distress. Firefighters arrived to find that two individuals in a group of three had made it to shore; the third was in fast moving water, clinging to an overhanging branch.
- PUB DATE: 5/26/2019 6:13:44 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Firefighters demonstrate sprinklers at Madison’s Brat Fest

Madison’s Brat Fest is filled with music, food and fun—but on Saturday, the event also featured a more serious fire safety demonstration, displaying the necessity of home sprinklers. This is the first year the demonstration, organized by the National Protection Fire Association (NFPA) and the Madison Fire Department, has come to Brat Fest.
- PUB DATE: 5/25/2019 3:16:04 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Police: 1 juvenile, 2 others arrested in connection with Bond Park fire

Janesville police arrested three suspects, including one juvenile, in connection with a fire in the bathroom at Bond Park. According to a release from the Janesville Police Department, officers responded to the fire at 6:01 p.m. Thursday at the park on the city's west side. The release said witnesses were able to describe the three males and a vehicle involved.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2019 5:12:37 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Wisconsin lawmakers take aim at potentially toxic chemicals

Some Wisconsin legislators are pushing to curtail the use of firefighting foams that contain potentially toxic chemicals and establish standards that limit how much of the substances can safely exist in the state's groundwater, air and soil. Firefighting foam can contain polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which are man-made chemicals that research suggests can decrease female fertility, increase the risk of high blood pressure in pregnant women and lower birth weights.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2019 5:06:07 AM - SOURCE: Madison.com

Girl offers firetruck ride to classmates displaced by Portage house fire

Olive Preuss, 7, ignited Portage firefighters’ hearts Wednesday when she offered a priceless gift to a couple classmates after a local family was displaced by a house fire two weeks ago. Passing up the chance to ride inside a firetruck to St. Mary’s Catholic School on Wednesday morning, Olive asked the Portage Fire Department to instead take her friends Easton Van Zile, 7, and Avery Van Zile, 5.
- PUB DATE: 5/24/2019 3:33:31 AM - SOURCE: Portage Daily Register

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