Black River Falls (Black River Falls Fire Department Press Release) - On November 23, 2012 @
11:04AM the Black River Falls Fire Department (BRFFD) was paged for a structure
(garage) fire at W9108 Dennis Road
which is located in the Township of Manchester and County of Jackson.
Upon arrival the BRFFD found
a 48' x 27' wood frame unattached garage fully involved in fire. A defensive
attack was made on the fire to protect and save a 48' x 27' single family wood
frame home close to the unattached garage.
The garage is a total loss
and some of its contents that the owner was not able to get. The home did
suffer some radiant heat damage to it siding.
The owners were home at the
time and were made aware of the fire by the mail man on the daily mail route.
The cause appears to be burn
barrel which on of the owners had placed some paper in about 1 to 1.5 hours
earlier. The party did not ignite the paper but it is believed that the paper
started on fire from ash in the barrel from rubbish burning earlier in the
week. The strong winds blew embers out of the barrel which caught leaves on
fire in a car port area of the structure which then spread to the structure
itself.
The structure is insured but
damage estimates are not known at this time.
American Red Cross was called
to assist the family as the power had to cut by the power company which left no
power in the single family home.
The owners and occupants of
the property are Mark and Jennifer Hill. There were no reported
injuries to any civilians or firefighters.
BRFFD was on scene for 1.5
hours. Mutual aid was requested from the Merrillan, Hixton and
Sparta Rural Fire Departments
for water tenders and firefighters. WI DNR Fire Control was also contacted for
fire investigation as a burn barrel was involved.
Black River Emergency Medical
service was also on scene for medical standby.
Chief Steve Schreiber, Black River Falls Fire Department.
