A group of homeowners filed a civil lawsuit seeking damages to recover losses from property and related damages as a result of a deadly natural gas explosion in downtown Sun Prairie. Nine homeowners filed the lawsuit on August 2. They complaint is against VC Tech, Bear Communications, Verizon, WE Energies, and USIC Locating Services.
- PUB DATE: 8/7/2019 4:39:42 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

For 75 years, Smokey Bear has taught millions of Americans about their role in preventing wildfires. On Aug. 9, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is celebrating Smokey and his timeless message, "Only you can prevent wildfires." "Smokey Bear ranks right up there behind Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse," says Catherine Koele, DNR wildfire prevention specialist.
- PUB DATE: 8/7/2019 1:35:59 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Local emergency crews rescued three Cargill Malt workers from a Sheboygan malt silo Tuesday. The Sheboygan Fire Department was dispatched to Cargill's New Jersey Avenue facility at about 10:24 a.m. Tuesday after a worker fell into a silo and was trapped up to his neck. When first responders arrived, they found that two more workers had become trapped in the silo while trying to rescue the first man, according to a press release from the fire department.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2019 8:42:42 PM - SOURCE: Sheboygan Press

Across the country, law enforcement agencies participated in the annual National Night Out event on Tuesday held in the parking lot of Dales Weston Lanes. The goal of the event is to encourage different communities to bond with those that serve and protect them while having fun in a setting people normally don’t see first responders.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2019 8:42:42 PM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

Rescue crews are searching for a missing swimmer in Lake Michigan near Warnimont Park in Cudahy. The Cudahy and Milwaukee fire departments, along with the Coast Guard, are searching for a 19-year-old man who was last seen swimming in the area. Four people were swimming when the missing man went under the water and did not resurface, according to the Cudahy Fire Department.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2019 9:11:48 AM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

One person was injured following a roll over in Sparta Monday afternoon. The Sparta Area Fire District was called to a one-vehicle roll over yesterday on Iberia Avenue in Sparta. The driver was trapped in the vehicle when it started on fire. People passing by the crash scene assisted the driver in getting out of the burning vehicle, according to Mike Arnold, Sparta Fire Chief.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2019 8:47:08 AM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Firefighters with the Argyle Fire Department believe a lightning strike likely caused a house fire. They were called to a home at 17471 Valley Road in Argyle Township late Monday night. The house sustained minor damage, according to a release from the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office. No one was hurt, according to the release.
- PUB DATE: 8/6/2019 6:53:46 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

The South Beloit Fire Department battled a fire early Sunday morning which put a family of five out of its home and injured a firefighter. "There was heavy smoke and water damage throughout the home and considerable fire damage," said South Beloit Fire Chief Mike Davenport. "It's not a total loss but unlivable.
- PUB DATE: 8/5/2019 7:53:33 AM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News

Members of the Evansville Community Fire District stopped to support a local lemonade stand after responding to a call Saturday. In a Facebook post from the Evansville Fire District's Facebook page, Lt. Bill Castonguay is seen buying refreshments from the "young entrepreneurs." Evansville Firefighters stopped after responding to a call earlier today to purchase some lemonade from some young entrepreneurs!!! Thanks to Lt.
- PUB DATE: 8/4/2019 12:37:46 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

The La Crosse Fire Department released a statement saying that the La Crosse Fire Investigation Bureau and the La Crosse Police Department are investigating the cause of a porch fire on Seventh Street near Hamilton Early Learning Center, as well as two other smaller fires in the area. Firefighters received a call for a fire at the two story single family house at 2:34 a.
- PUB DATE: 8/4/2019 9:00:45 AM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Community Donations can help give a rare genetic disease the boot. The Holmen Area Fire Department hosted a Fill the Boot campaign Friday evening. Donations will go towards the Muscular Dystrophy Association's mission. The disease causes progressive weakness and loss of muscle. The hope was to raise $5,000.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2019 3:53:59 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Eighteen departments responded to a massive barn fire in Walworth County on Thursday night. According to the Sharon Fire Department, the call came in just after 7:30 p.m. for a fire. When crews got there, they found the fire had started on the second floor of the barn, in the area where hay was kept.
- PUB DATE: 8/2/2019 4:36:31 AM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

As the Village of Bellevue continues to grow, so does the need for 24-hour emergency response. “Right now, we've got 155 single family residential units that are coming in; and just across the street here, this has come up in the past two years,” Village Administrator Diane Wessel said. Currently, Bellevue’s Fire Station 1 is staffed 7 a.
- PUB DATE: 8/1/2019 8:52:12 PM - SOURCE: WBAY-TV ABC 2 Green Bay

Baraboo EMS Chief Dana Sechler took his current position a decade ago and remembers being told to prepare; a new building for the department would be coming soon. After 10 years, preliminary plans look promising. “We’re very happy and excited to see what possibilities come,” Sechler said. “People get excited about that; a new venture and a new building to look forward to.
- PUB DATE: 8/1/2019 5:11:08 PM - SOURCE: Baraboo News Republic

Smokey Bear celebrates his 75th anniversary this year as the poster bear for wildfire prevention across the country. But Smokey isn’t just a poster bear. Since 1950, he’s existed in 3D form, as a costume worn by rangers, firefighters and volunteers around the country. The first Smokey costume wasn’t created in Washington or somewhere out west, but right here in Wisconsin, in the Northwoods town of Mercer.
- PUB DATE: 8/1/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

It’s been a relatively mild summer, with one major heat advisory roughly two weeks ago. And while many of us turn on the air conditioner once the temperature reaches 80 degrees, the Marshall Area EMS and Marshall Fire Department building, 119 Industrial Drive, has been without the comfort of air conditioning for most of the summer.
- PUB DATE: 7/31/2019 1:00:21 PM - SOURCE: Waterloo / Marshall Courier

Officers with the Beloit Police Department are investigating a number of burglaries and an arson in Rock County. The burglaries occurred sometime between July 24 and July 25 in Beloit and the town of Turtle. One burglary occurred at Beloit College, at a utility shed on Church Street, according to a social media post by the department.
- PUB DATE: 7/31/2019 9:53:25 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

A Sun Prairie post office will be renamed in honor of fallen firefighter Capt. Cory Barr. The Senate passed bipartisan legislation to make the change Wednesday. Barr died last July while responding to a gas leak in downtown Sun Prairie. Barr is credited with evacuating more than 100 people from the affected area before an explosion erupted.
- PUB DATE: 7/31/2019 8:01:11 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

A 53-year-old Kenosha man died in an industrial accident Tuesday morning. According to Kenosha Police, emergency responders were called at 9:12 a.m. to Heartland Produce, 4550 70th Ave. Upon arrival, officers found an injured person who ultimately died from his injuries. Police said the accident occurred while maintenance work was being completed on the property.
- PUB DATE: 7/30/2019 1:01:32 PM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

The Beloit Police and Fire Commission on Monday unanimously approved a process to hire a search firm in seeking a new Beloit Fire Department chief. City Attorney Elizabeth Krueger will issue the request for proposals from executive search firms to prompt the nationwide search. The PFC could review responses as soon as the end of August, followed by interviews of firms starting in September.
- PUB DATE: 7/30/2019 8:34:02 AM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News