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Wisconsin Fire News

Competency exam ordered for man charged in Buffalo County church fire

A competency examination is ordered for the man charged in connection with a Buffalo County church fire. The competency hearing for 31-year-old Jessie Bromaghim is scheduled for July 6 at the Buffalo County Courthouse. Bromaghim is facing criminal damage to personal property and arson for the incident at St.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 9:55:15 PM - SOURCE: WEAU-TV 13 News

Former Ledgeview truck stop damaged by fire

PHOTO: A fire damaged a former Ledgeview truck stop Wednesday afternoon. The call for a structure fire in the 3700 block of Elmview Road came in around 11 a.m., said Ledgeview Fire Chief Tom Guns. When firefighters arrivedm heavy black smoke could be seen coming out of the building, Guns said. The building has been used for storage for many years.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 4:44:55 PM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette

Seymour firefighters help rescue cat stuck in concrete step

PHOTO: A cat in Seymour got to keep one of its nine lives after police and firefighters found it in a cat-astrophic position. The black cat was found Wednesday morning with its head stuck between two pieces of concrete steps, leading to a vacant house in the 400 block of North Main Street. Seymour police officers were unable to free the cat, so the fire department and DPW were called to help.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 9:16:28 AM - SOURCE: WLUK TV Fox 11

Arson investigation underway at Milwaukee home where 15-year-old boy was beaten to death

VIDEO: An arson investigation is underway after fire breaks out at a Milwaukee home Tuesday night -- where a 15-year-old Dennis King was beaten to death a few days ago. According to Milwaukee Police, a small fire started near the back door of a home near 12th Street and Keefe just before 10 p.m. Police say no one was home when the fire started.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 7:10:40 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-AM 620 Milwaukee

Overnight Blaze Keeps Fox Crossing Firefighters Busy

Fox Crossing Fire Department called our last night (Tuesday) around 6 for a report of a house fire at 1104 Lakeshore Drive. Police first reported that smoke was visible from the exterior of the vacant home and flames were visible from inside. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and found no one inside.
- PUB DATE: 5/23/2018 4:50:41 AM - SOURCE: WNFL SPORT REDIO

Follow Up: Residents return to 'The Ram' in Portage for vigil to honor boy lost in fire

Light returned Monday night to the Historic apartment building as many residents illuminated Commerce Plaza with the glow of a candlelight vigil. Dozens of people arrived in the square around 9 p.m. to remember Damien Lawless, the boy who died in a fire in a fifth-floor apartment Sunday morning. “He was a very fun-loving, charming boy, very energetic, and he always brightened everybody’s day that he came in contact with,” said 30-year-old Chad Lawless, father of the boy who would have been 2 in August.
- PUB DATE: 5/22/2018 8:02:50 PM - SOURCE: Portage Daily Register

Mosinee first responders recognized for National EMS Week

VIDEO: In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized a week to celebrate the important work EMS workers do day to day. The Mosinee Fire District is one of hundreds of stations in Wisconsin with EMS providers. The department has 16 EMTs, 11 advanced EMTs, and 2 first responders. Fire chief Stephen Haas said he's proud of his team and called them selfless, knowledgeable, and brave workers.
- PUB DATE: 5/22/2018 8:45:47 AM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9-Wausau

Follow Up: Parents grieve as officials say fatal Portage fire was started by child with matches

A fire that claimed the life of a 2-year-old boy was caused by his 4-year-old sister playing with matches, according to Portage Fire Inspector Craig Ratz. “It probably took us 7 minutes after we arrived to get water,” Ratz said of the fire Sunday morning in the Historic apartments in downtown Portage.
- PUB DATE: 5/22/2018 6:51:29 AM - SOURCE: Chippewa Herald

Green Bay basement fire caused by clothing on stove

Clothing and personal items on top of a hot stove are said to be the cause of a basement fire Monday night, the Green Bay Metro Fire Department said. The fire department was called to a home in the 800 block of Royal Boulevard Monday night after flames from a fire that started on the stove spread to a wall and ceiling in the basement.
- PUB DATE: 5/22/2018 6:18:43 AM - SOURCE: Green Bay Press-Gazette

La Crosse EMS providers recognized for service to the community

When someone calls in a time of crisis, emergency medical service providers spring into action. These providers are being recognized for their joint response efforts during national EMS week. EMS week is a way to thank those who help us in a time of need, like paramedics, emergency room staff or firefighters.
- PUB DATE: 5/21/2018 8:51:34 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Holmen looks to future of fire department

VIDEO: The Holmen Area Fire Department is expecting changes in the coming months. They were already in need of a new assistant fire chief when Chief Paul Menches announced in April he would not renew his contract. Fire Board President Steve Johnston says it's an opportunity to plan for the future and replace some aging equipment.
- PUB DATE: 5/21/2018 5:55:51 PM - SOURCE: WXOW-TV ABC 19 LaCrosse

Trempealeau County: Man rescued from submerged bulldozer

VIDEO: A man in a bulldozer, submerged in a pond at Hi-Crush Sand Mine in Whitehall, was rescued Monday morning. Authorities received a call at 7:53 a.m., May 21, and all units were dispatched to the sand mine. The man was pulled to safety by rescue boat and transported to a nearby hospital. "When incidents occur, we periodically have drills from situations such as this so that we are prepared and also look at some of our partners in the area to help," said Joni Olson, CEO of Gundersen Tri-County Hospital.
- PUB DATE: 5/21/2018 12:29:52 PM - SOURCE: WKBT-TV CBS 8 La Crosse

Weyauwega house fire displaces four residents, causes $200,000 in damage

A fire displaced four residents Saturday evening and caused about $200,000 in damage to a two-story house at 416 E. Wisconsin St. Fire Chief Tom Cullen said two residents escaped from the burning home and notified a neighbor to call 911. No one was injured. Witnesses reported that the fire might have been caused by an explosion of a propane grill.
- PUB DATE: 5/20/2018 1:03:43 PM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

Fire kills child Sunday in downtown Portage, displaces 70 residents

A Sunday morning apartment fire killed a child and left several residents injured in downtown Portage. Police and firefighters responded to the reported fire at 10 a.m. on the fifth floor of the Historic at 207 W. Cook St., commonly referred to by its former name the Ram. “There was a fire on the fifth floor and it was pretty bad,” said second-floor resident Tazia Mills.
- PUB DATE: 5/20/2018 12:36:48 PM - SOURCE: Portage Daily Register

Editorial: Get serious about one fire department in La Crosse area

“Fires and emergencies don’t care about the politics or hurt egos. We want what’s best for the people.” – Local firefighter union president Lance Tryggestad. When your house is burning, you want help — and you want it in a hurry. You don’t want fire departments to rely on a complex matrix that could be influenced by political history or professional rivalries or anything of the sort.
- PUB DATE: 5/20/2018 8:38:22 AM - SOURCE: Lacrosse Tribune

Crews battle fire at Milwaukee nightclub

VIDEO: Firefighters worked for several hours early Sunday morning to gain control of a fire at a nightclub on the city's north side. First responders were called to "Escape" nightclub near North 35th Street and West Douglas Avenue at around 1 a.m. and quickly upgraded the fire to two alarms. They were on the scene for at least three hours and had to return later in the morning to put out remaining hot spots.
- PUB DATE: 5/20/2018 5:17:32 AM - SOURCE: WISN-TV ABC 12 Milwaukee

Holmen board considers purchase of $850,000 fire truck

Although they took no action on the matter, the Holmen Village Board trustees has indicated its support for the Holmen Area Fire Department’s proposal to buy a new aerial ladder truck with platform. Since the board’s May 10 agenda didn’t list the purchase request as an action item, the village board trustees couldn’t take a vote on buying an $850,000 fire truck.
- PUB DATE: 5/20/2018 2:32:38 AM - SOURCE: Onalaska Holmen Courier Life

Milwaukee Fire Chief proposes new cuts for 2019

VIDEO: Just days after the major Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church fire in Downtown Milwaukee, the fire chief has announced potential cuts for 2019. At Thursday’s Public Safety Committee meeting Chief Mark Rohlfing said the department would likely have to shed one engine company and approximately 15 personnel in the coming budget year.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2018 8:52:32 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-AM 620 Milwaukee

Active shooter training reaches wide audience in Portage

At the end of a full work day, 80 people packed into the Columbia County Administration Building for a three-hour seminar on active shooting incidents. The presentation by members of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Portage Police Department gave the public insight into what is known about mass shootings in the United States and how the expectations for police and the public have changed.
- PUB DATE: 5/18/2018 5:40:30 AM - SOURCE: Portage Daily Register

Update: Winona man charged for starting fire at Fountain City church

VIDEO: Charges were filed Thursday against a suspect in Wednesday's church fire in Fountain City. Jesse Bromaghim, from Winona, is being held on a $10,000 cash bond after being charged with arson, criminal damage to personal property and attempted car theft in Buffalo County Circuit Court Thursday. Bromaghim is accused of starting Wednesday morning's fire and tipping over a statue at St.
- PUB DATE: 5/17/2018 4:20:41 PM - SOURCE: WXOW-TV ABC 19 LaCrosse

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