A day defined by smoke

By Chris Spangler

It was about noon when Craig Lang backed out of his North Main Street home’s rear driveway and saw thick, black smoke billowing from a warehouse nearby.

The northern end of D.B. Oak, which decades ago was the home of Thomas Industries, was on fire.

“I’d finished up some paperwork in my truck, backed down the driveway, turned and looked and saw smoke was starting to come out from the building’s north end,” Lang, the owner of Craig’s Concrete, said. 

He immediately reached for his cellphone.

“I pushed 9 and 1 for 911 and then saw the first policeman arrive,” he added.

Needless to say, Lang never left for his destination. He parked and stood near the east end of the parking lot watching as firefighters and other first responders arrived.

Early on, Lang said, the north-end back wall of the building blew out. 

“I saw the smoke and flames were coming out of the eaves; then the roof went and that was pretty much it,” he said.

Firefighters opened up the roof skylights for ventilation and used aerial trucks to pour water down onto the building. 

Watching the scene near Lang was Sandra Grinz. Her daughter, Kyra Walling, and her husband own Phantom Kargo Karriers, which stores its 36-foot enclosed trailer along the west side of D.B. Oak.

“It’s right next to the action right there,” Grinz said as she took photos to send to her daughter and son-in-law. 

Nothing was in the trailer, which appeared to be very close to the burning building.

“Things can be replaced; people can not,” she said. “I want to thank every single team of firefighters, first responders, the police, for taking quick action. The smoke was really scary to see, and it’s still billowing, which is really frightening.

“Right now we can’t determine if there is any damage to the trailer, but again, it can be replaced,” she added.

Grinz said that she wanted to keep the Wallings in the loop.

“They do a wonderful job and they’ve worked very hard to build their business, and I’m proud of them,” she said. “I definitely think there will be some issues. It will set them back a bit, but it’s not going to stop their determination.”

As she talked, Jaeckel Bros. of Jefferson started knocking down part of the roof as firefighters sprayed the debris from three angles. The trailer was nearby.

Also on hand were Jefferson County Emergency Management director Donna Haugom, who brought bottled water, and Jefferson County Sheriff Paul Milbrath and other deputies. 

Bottled water, soda and food from Culver’s Restaurant, Casey’s General Store and other businesses also arrived unsolicited to help firefighters and other emergency personnel ward off heat exhaustion and hunger.

Meanwhile, authorities were concerned about the flames burning the many trees located just west of the building and which continue to East Cramer Street. They encouraged businesses to the north to evacuate due to the black smoke, and many did, including Opportunities Inc. 

On East Cramer Street, the Fort Atkinson Fire Department was pumping water from a hydrant through a large hose snaked along the railroad tracks to the fire scene. Many more fire departments were stationed on the east side of the structure, fighting the blaze from there.

Throughout the afternoon, several small explosions could be heard, and even felt, on Blackhawk Drive and even as far west as Monroe Street. 

The smoke continued to be seen from throughout the county as of 5:30 p.m.

Photos by Chris Spangler unless otherwise indicated.