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Wisconsin Fire News

Pine Lake drowning victim intoxicated ahead of Sunday morning accident

Preliminary autopsy results on the body of a Baldwin woman found in Pine Lake Sunday morning indicates she was heavily intoxicated before she apparently fell into the water and drowned. A press release issued by the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department Tuesday afternoon stated Kristelle M. Wolle's blood alcohol content was .
- PUB DATE: 12/10/2017 7:23:11 PM - SOURCE: Rivertowns

State Attorney General: Rule requiring fire sprinklers in apartment buildings is unenforceable

Wisconsin regulators can’t enforce a rule requiring sprinklers in large apartment buildings, Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel said Friday in a victory for builders looking to save on costs. The state Department of Safety and Professional Standards adopted a rule in 2008 that requires sprinklers in apartment buildings built after Jan.
- PUB DATE: 12/10/2017 1:07:50 PM - SOURCE: Wisconsin Gazette

Thursday night rollover crash in Madison sends one to hospital, fire department says

A rollover crash on Thursday on the North Side left one person in a hospital, the Madison Fire Department said. When firefighters arrived, they found the injured driver standing outside of the vehicle, which was upside down and on its roof, said fire department spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster. The driver's vehicle was the only one involved in the crash, which occurred at the intersection of Sherman Avenue and Northport Drive.
- PUB DATE: 12/8/2017 6:31:04 AM - SOURCE: Madison.com-Wisconsin State Journal-Capital Times

$30K study looks at joint Fitchburg Fire, EMS

A consultant will evaluate if Fitchburg’s standalone fire and EMS services are the most efficient setup for the city or if a “fire-based EMS” department would be better. The Common Council approved $30,000 for the study on a 6-2 vote at its Nov. 14 meeting as an amendment to the 2017 budget. Ald. Julia Arata-Fratta (Dist.
- PUB DATE: 12/8/2017 6:13:37 AM - SOURCE: Fitchburg Star

Town of Burlington fire chief steps down

Town Fire Chief Ed Umnus has removed his name from the ballot for the fire chief position for 2018, he said in a Facebook post and the town administrator verified. Assistant Chief Bill Vrchota will step into the chief's role on Jan. 1. Umnus has served with the Town of Burlington Fire Department for almost 28 years and has served as fire chief for six, according to a Facebook post by Umnus announcing he was stepping down.
- PUB DATE: 12/8/2017 2:17:11 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

Milwaukee Fire Dept. mourns passing of Kristin Ciganek, firefighter who battled cancer

Ciganek had learned she had a four inch by four inch mass on her ovary. A few weeks later, she was told she had stage 4 colon cancer. Ciganek started a new, aggressive chemotherapy regimen at Froedtert Hospital, which worked well at the time. Her chemo was followed up by surgery. Ciganek got her first sign something was wrong when she jumped off a rig following a fire call — and felt excruciating abdominal pain.
- PUB DATE: 12/8/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: FOX 6 Now

Milwaukee firefighter charged with sexual assault of coworker, repeated harassment

A Milwaukee Fire Department acting lieutenant repeatedly groped a co-worker and gave her low marks on her work evaluation after she complained, according to a criminal complaint charging him with a felony. Michael Peden, 35, was charged Thursday with second-degree sexual assault after his arrest last weekend.
- PUB DATE: 12/8/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Merrill fire battalion chief retires with pride

After nearly 32 years of service with the Merrill Fire Department, Battalion Chief Mike Drury will retire Friday, according to a news release. “I have always felt truly blessed with my calling to be a professional firefighter, as I believe it is one of the most admirable and respectable professions there is," he said in a Nov.
- PUB DATE: 12/7/2017 7:25:26 AM - SOURCE: Wausau Daily Herald

Sun Prairie apartment complex evacuation caused by burnt food, officials say

A 12-unit apartment complex was evacuated early Thursday morning because of burnt food, officials said. Crews were called around 1:45 a.m. to the 600 block of Schiller Street for a report of a structure fire, according to a release. Firefighters found heavy smoke on the second floor, so they evacuated the building, officials said.
- PUB DATE: 12/7/2017 7:18:35 AM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

City of Tomah 2018 budget passed

Tomah City Council members approved the city’s 2018 budget Monday during a special meeting at Tomah city hall. The approved budget will decrease the city’s portion of local property tax bills next year. The city’s mill rate drops to $7.90 in 2018 from $8.51 in 2017. The property levy will remain nearly flat, rising from $5,121,713 in 2017 to $5,153,441 in 2018, an increase of $31,728 or .
- PUB DATE: 12/7/2017 4:20:15 AM - SOURCE: Tomah Journal

Burlington house fire displaces seven

Seven people were displaced Wednesday after a fire at their Burlington home. Firefighters responded to a 5:44 a.m. call at 173 W. State St., said City of Burlington Fire Chief Al Babe. The Red Cross was also called to assist. No one was hurt in the fire, Babe said. Fire crews fought heavy smoke conditions on the second floor and in the attic.
- PUB DATE: 12/7/2017 2:13:39 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

Fire destroys cold storage facility on West Street in Wausau

VIDEO: Firefighters remained on the scene all day Tuesday fighting a blaze that eventually destroyed a cold storage building at 1212 West St. in Wausau. The fire was tracked to an attic, and firefighters had to cut through the roof to try to extinguish the flames. Ultimately, the roof collapsed and emergency crews had to pull down the building to get access to smoldering parts.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2017 7:25:49 AM - SOURCE: Stevens Point Journal

Study looking at Ward Avenue for new Hudson fire hall

Following a study regarding the needs of the Hudson Fire Department in March, the city has approved moving forward with a study of the Ward Avenue property as the future site of a new station. The study will be conducted by Five Bugles Design, which did the initial needs study. At the common council meeting on Monday, Nov.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2017 6:28:36 AM - SOURCE: Hudson Star-Observer

Racine firefighters, police help carry woman out of burning room

First responders helped save a woman who was unable to leave her home after a fire started in her room on Tuesday afternoon. Racine firefighters responded to a report of a fire at 3408 21st St., between Blaine and Arthur avenues. The call came in at about 12:20 p.m. First responders were made aware of the fire after they received a call from the woman’s Lifeline Alert system.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2017 3:03:30 AM - SOURCE: Racine Journal Times

UWGB students to reenact Green Bay 1880 fire

VIDEO: Wednesday afternoon, 28 University of Wisconsin-Green Bay students are performing a reenactment of the great Green Bay fire of 1880. The reenactment takes place from 12:45 p.m. to 2 p.m. On September 20, 1880, sparks from the ship Oconto started a fire that tore through Green Bay's east side, destroying about 100 structures and causing 1 death.
- PUB DATE: 12/6/2017 2:07:00 AM - SOURCE: WFRV-TV and WJMN-TV Green Bay

Officials: Winds lead to difficulty putting out Town of Madison house fire

VIDEO: Firefighters put out a house fire at 380 Munn Road in the Town of Madison Tuesday afternoon, despite challenging high winds, officials said. A woman was home when the fire started just after 2 p.m., but was able to leave the house, Town of Madison Fire Department Chief David Bloom said. Bloom said no one was hurt in the fire, but said a pet iguana is believed to be inside.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 2:22:07 PM - SOURCE: WISC-TV Channel 3000.com Madison

Beloit 'Shop With a Hero' serves 185 local children

One-hundred and eighty-five kids and their families had the opportunity Saturday to buy Christmas presents with local law enforcement and firefighters. The 17th annual Shop with a Hero event brought in 170 children to the Beloit Walmart on Saturday morning, where the kids were able to shop with an officer or firefighter to not only pick out presents for themselves but for the whole family.
- PUB DATE: 12/5/2017 7:18:18 AM - SOURCE: Beloit Daily News

Madison restaurant temporarily evacuated after carbon monoxide leak

VIDEO: Madison Fire Department said a business did the right thing after what could have been a close call with carbon monoxide over the weekend. Crews were called to That BBQ Joint on Williamson Street Saturday close to 5 p.m. after complaints of an “odd smell.” When firefighters arrived, they found a carbon monoxide leak and evacuated the restaurant.
- PUB DATE: 12/4/2017 5:30:38 PM - SOURCE: WMTV-TV NBC 15 Madison

Scammers claim to represent Madison area fire departments

Recent scams involving individuals claiming to be associated with area fire departments have local officials warning residents to be on the lookout for similar cons. Scammers have targeted the cities of Madison and Jefferson recently and are reaching out to people via phone and mail. According to a city of Madison scam alert release, a caller told a woman they were “from the fire department” and asked if she had her smoke alarms regularly checked.
- PUB DATE: 12/4/2017 10:57:42 AM - SOURCE: DeForest Times

Hot air balloon crashes into power lines in Center

VIDEO: Two people escaped injury Sunday morning when their hot air balloon crashed into power lines on Meade Street north of Wege Road in Outagamie County. One of the occupants felt tingling in his hands when they hit the power lines. They were instructed to stay in the basket until We Energies arrived to cut the power.
- PUB DATE: 12/3/2017 1:00:14 PM - SOURCE: Appleton Post-Gazette & Post Crescent.com

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