Firefighters battle blaze in sub-zero weather

By John Faucher

Twelve area fire departments responded to a fully engulfed structure fire at N2576 State Highway 15 in the town of Ellington, Monday morning.

Ellington Fire Chief Jim Bentle said the call came in around 2 a.m.

The fire destroyed an 80-foot-by-100-foot workshop and office complex owned by Don E. Parker Excavating Inc.

Ellington and Greenville fire departments responded simultaneously, Bentle said.

“When the first crews got there they found the workshop and office complex fully engulfed. We immediately called for assistance,” said Bentle.

Ten other fire departments responded with water tenders, manpower and equipment.

Two fires at once

While Hortonville-Hortonia Fire Department teams were responding to assist, they received a call for a structure fire on Nye Street in the village of Hortonville.

The residence is located just down the street from the fire station.

Hortonville-Hortonia Assistant Fire Chief Matt Stuewer said the Nye Street fire started with a parked four-wheeler in an attached garage.

“It may have been an overheated battery, said Stuewer.

“Luckily a smoke alarm alerted the homeowner and our guys were very close at the time. They were able to knock it down quickly and contain it to the garage,” he said.

Firefighters ventilated the smoke and ensured no extensions of the fire had spread before returning to join the others at the Parker fire.

Sub-zero temperatures

Bentle said below-zero temperatures made operations difficult.

“Due to the cold weather we were rotating crews out quite frequently. Obviously some of their equipment was freezing up also, so we had to rotate some of the equipment and let it thaw out,” said Bentle.

The weather created other problems as well.

Bentle said icing on the scene created slip hazards and ice covered roads slowed down tenders working to shuttle water back and forth.

The Outagamie County Sherriff Department, Hortonville Police Department and Wisconsin State Patrol closed a section of State Highway 15 for several hours during the fire.

Undetermined cause

Bentle said the cause of the fire is still undetermined.

They called in the state fire marshal to assist with the investigation.

“There were a number of heat sources in the area that we’re thinking it could have originated from,” said Bentle. “Right now it does not look suspicious.”

Bentle said it was too early to determine a loss estimate, but he called it “substantial.”

The shed was a total loss.

Inside, three dump trucks, an equipment truck, two pay loaders, a bulldozer, several UTVs, numerous tools, office supplies, equipment and parts were either destroyed or badly damaged.

Cold weather fire risks

Bentle said colder temperatures sometimes can bring increased fire risks.

“In this cold weather, things like furnaces, circuits and other appliances work harder and have less time to cool down,” he said.

“It’s a good idea to schedule regular maintenance checks on furnaces, chimneys and appliances,” said Bentle.

He also advised extra caution when using any alternative heat source indoors during cold weather.

“When things are over powered, they heat up. Give things plenty of space,” he said.

Ellington and Greenville Fire Departments were assisted on the scene of Monday’s fire by; Hortonville-Hortonia Fire Department, Dale Fire Department, Bear Creek Fire Department, Shiocton Fire Department, Combined Locks Fire Department, Freedom Fire Department, Nichols Fire Department, Black Creek Fire Department, Center Fire Department, Gold Cross, Outagamie County CERT, Hortonville Police, Outagamie County Highway Department and Wisconsin State Patrol.