By Kim McDarison
The Fort Atkinson Fire Department responded Saturday to a house fire in the 300 block of Monroe Street.
Fort Atkinson Fire Department Division Chief Tom Gerondale, who was among those at the scene, said a call for help was received by the fire department around 4:04 p.m.
Upon their arrival, firefighters were confronted with flames coming from the north side exterior of the home on the building’s second floor.
Gerondale said the building is a duplex with one apartment each on the upper and lower levels of the structure.
According to Gerondale, about 20% of the north exterior was affected by flames. A cause of the fire has not yet been determined, he said.
Damage to the building’s interior was caused primarily by smoke and water, he said, noting that there also was some fire damage in the building’s attic.
Occupants of the upstairs apartment were not home at the time of the fire, but, Gerondale said, firefighters had contact with at least one occupant on scene and after the fire was out. Gerondale said he believed the occupant of the upstairs apartment is a renter.
Two cats were rescued from the upstairs apartment. No loss of life resulting from the fire was reported.
While he was unaware of how many occupants lived in either apartment, Gerondale said firefighters, as a matter of protocol when they arrive at a scene, do a primary search. At this scene, he said, they were able to determine that no one was inside the upstairs apartment at the time of the fire, and one occupant was in the downstairs apartment. The downstairs occupant who was home during the fire safely exited the building, he said.
Some 15 Fort Atkinson firefighters were on scene, Gerondale said, noting that firefighters remained on scene for about four hours.
The department was assisted through mutual aid by fire departments from the municipalities of Lake Mills, Edgerton, Cambridge, Whitewater and Jefferson.
Gerondale described damage to the structure as significant enough that occupants from both apartments were displaced.
“They all will have to live elsewhere for the time being,” he said.
Heat played a role in battling the blaze. Mutual aid was requested because of the high outdoor air temperatures on Saturday, he said.
Mutual aid was brought in to give firefighters a chance to cycle away from the heat, he added.
Also on scene were members of the Fort Atkinson Police Department and Ryan Brothers Ambulance Service. The ambulance service was on scene to provide a place for firefighters to get medical checks, water, and other supports while battling the fire.
The fire was contained to the single two-story structure and did not spread to other buildings, cars or neighboring property, he said.
This story may be updated.
Three photos above: Firefighters battle a fire on a north exterior wall of a two-story duplex on Monroe Street Saturday. With outside air temperatures reaching 95 degrees Saturday, heat played a role in battling the flames. The Fort Atkinson Fire Department was supported in the effort by several area departments through mutual aid. Photos courtesy of the Fort Atkinson Fire Department.
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