A former firefighter who served with the West Allis Fire Department is celebrating more than 100 years of life. “It feels good, but I don’t run anymore," Bill Koehn said. Bill Koehn may not run anymore, but at age 104 he can still pop champagne with the best of ‘em, especially when surrounded by friends and family.
- PUB DATE: 1/10/2018 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WTMJ-TV 4 Milwaukee

VIDEO: Spinning tires are to blame for a car fire on Lake Wausau, according to fire officials Tuesday night. They said some people were in a car on the lake when it got stuck. When the people tried to get out of the rut, the spinning tires started on fire. Fire officials said it was too far away from land and they couldn't drive out to it, therefore they resorted to shoveling snow onto the car.
- PUB DATE: 1/9/2018 9:50:42 PM - SOURCE: WAOW-TV ABC 9-Wausau

Fire crews from around St. Croix County responded Tuesday morning to a house fire in the town of Kinnickinnic. The fire was reported at about 9:20 a.m. Jan. 9 at 1237 County Road N — in between River Falls and Roberts. The home, owned by Bradley and DK Bockus Kinkaid, was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
- PUB DATE: 1/9/2018 6:52:27 PM - SOURCE: Rivertowns

A late-night fire gutted a downtown Chetek apartment and business and three fire departments were called to help fight the blaze Sunday, Jan. 7. Cleanup was still ongoing Monday morning, Jan. 8, and Second Street—from Moore to Douglas Streets—was closed due to ice. Traffic was detoured on side streets.
- PUB DATE: 1/9/2018 3:13:44 AM - SOURCE: Barron News Shield

The Fall River Fire Department evacuated an apartment building Sunday evening, responding to a fire suspected to have started with a loose cigarette. A man police think is responsible was arrested and is facing criminal charges. Hillard Szlapka, 62, appeared in Columbia County Circuit Court on Monday facing charges of misdemeanor negligent handling of burning material, misdemeanor resisting an officer and felony threatening a law enforcement officer.
- PUB DATE: 1/8/2018 9:40:23 PM - SOURCE: wisc news

VIDEO: The growing Village of Kronenwetter is in need of firefighters. That was the message following a pair of meetings on Monday by the Community Life and Public Safety Committee and Police and Fire Commission, both of which took up matters related to the Fire Dept. Police and Fire Commission chair Chad Billeb says the only requirement they are looking for is a desire to help.
- PUB DATE: 1/8/2018 9:27:20 PM - SOURCE: WRIG-AM Fox Sports 1390

Two people were injured during an explosion at a cookie factory Monday afternoon, authorities confirmed. The explosion led authorities to evacuate the Signature Wafer Co. plant, 850 Stanton St., about 1:30 p.m., Ripon Fire Chief Tim Saul said. About 30 people were working in the plant at the time, though only two suffered injuries.
- PUB DATE: 1/8/2018 2:57:11 PM - SOURCE: Wausau Daily Herald

Eau Claire firefighters were called to put out a car fire at the intersection of Clairemont Avenue and Craig Road shortly before 3 p.m. on Monday. According to a News 18 reporter on scene, the vehicle was in the left turn lane on Clairemont Ave. Flames were showing when the reporter arrived, but he said firefighters were able to put out the fire a few minutes later.
- PUB DATE: 1/8/2018 2:17:11 PM - SOURCE: WQOW-TV ABC 18 Eau Claire

PHOTO: There was a house fire last night on the west side of Wausau. It was reported around 6pm on 5th Avenue, and was under control about an hour later. The Wausau Fire Department says the fire started on a stove in the kitchen. Flames traveled through the vents, and the fire got into the attic. A thick smoke was seen coming from the upper floors when firefighters arrived.
- PUB DATE: 1/8/2018 5:28:43 AM - SOURCE: WDEZ-FM 101.9

Fire destroyed a bedroom in a home on Kenosha’s near north side Sunday, displacing a family of four. Firefighters were called at 4:51 p.m to the home at 1606 38th St. where fire apparently broke out in a rear bedroom, according to Kenosha Fire Department Battalion Chief Matthew Haerter. No injuries were reported to either the residents or firefighters, he said.
- PUB DATE: 1/8/2018 2:26:34 AM - SOURCE: Kenosha News

A fire caused extensive damage Sunday to a two-story farmhouse at W849 Aebischer Road in Charlestown. Chilton Fire Chief Gary Halbach said part of the house was brought down with a backhoe. Another part was still standing but had a lot of smoke and water damage. "It's probably a total loss or a major loss," Halbach told USA Today Network-Wisconsin.
- PUB DATE: 1/8/2018 1:48:49 AM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

A fire at a Lyndon Station lumber mill caused roughly $2 million in damage and left one firefighter injured Sunday morning, Lyndon Station Fire Department Chief Larry Whaley said. Firefighters responded to Stan's Industrial Woodwork at 251 Industrial Ave. at around 7 a.m. for reports of a structure fire.
- PUB DATE: 1/7/2018 8:03:53 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

VIDEO: A former chief for the Chippewa Fire District, and former Lake Hallie Village Board President, John Neihart passed away Sunday after a brief battle with cancer. The Chippewa Fire District shared the news on its Facebook page Sunday. In the post, the Fire District thanked Neihart for everything he's given to the fire service and all the firefighters he has touched.
- PUB DATE: 1/7/2018 7:23:15 PM - SOURCE: WQOW-TV ABC 18 Eau Claire

Family, fellow firefighters and community members are mourning the death of Wisconsin Rapids firefighter Jim Easton Friday. Easton died unexpectedly on Jan. 1. His funeral funeral took place at 11 a.m. Friday and the fire department plans a large funeral procession afterward. Easton was a member of the Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department for 22 years, serving the last 12 years as a motor pump operator.
- PUB DATE: 1/5/2018 10:09:24 AM - SOURCE: WSAW-TV CBS 7 Wausau

Bellevue Fire and Rescue responded to a garage fire, just after 8am Friday. Crews were dispatched to the 2000 block of Lane Road. Smoke and fire was coming out of the garage when the fire department arrived. A large amount of damage occurred in the attic, and it is believed that is where the fire started.
- PUB DATE: 1/5/2018 9:44:00 AM - SOURCE: WTAQ 97.5-FM & 1360-AM

Ron Burton blames his dad. The town of St. Joseph fire chief recalls how his father, an assistant fire chief running a truck out of Burkhardt, would take him along on fire calls decades ago. Burton remembers the allure of the siren wails and light flashes as they responded to calls. "It was a pretty cool thing for a little boy," he said.
- PUB DATE: 1/5/2018 6:34:23 AM - SOURCE: New Richmond News

VIDEO: Take 3,000 blocks of ice, more than 100 volunteers, and a community built on ice and snow, and you've got just about everything you need to a build an ice castle. "This is volunteerism at its best," said Eagle River Fire Chief Michael Anderson. The Eagle River Fire Department takes charge of building the ice castle each year.
- PUB DATE: 1/4/2018 5:06:53 PM - SOURCE: WJFW-TV NBC 12 Rhinelander-Wausau

Having his truck break through the ice didn't stop an ice fisherman from heading out onto Lake Winnebago in search of the day's catch. The Oshkosh Fire Dept. says it was called to a spot on the lake less than a mile off Merritt Street, around 5:40 a.m. Firefighters found that the front driver's side wheel of the fisherman's pickup truck had broken through the ice.
- PUB DATE: 1/4/2018 9:39:42 AM - SOURCE: WLUK TV Fox 11

Fighting fire is hard enough, but the recent cold snap has made it even harder for local firefighters. Departments in Door and Kewaunee County have responded to at least five fires in the last two weeks when the average temperature struggled to hit the double digits. Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht says fighting fires in the winter bring up a whole new different set of challenges.
- PUB DATE: 1/4/2018 5:01:10 AM - SOURCE: Door County Daily News

While caution is taken by many, accidents do happen. In early December, Western Lakes Fire District responded to a dog that fell through Lac La Belle. The department is staffed with 15 divers and has boats in case it needs to make a rescue. Some of the firefighters are trained in ice water diving, while the entire staff is trained in surface water rescue.
- PUB DATE: 1/3/2018 7:46:50 PM - SOURCE: Livinglakecountry