The Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson on Tuesday recognized Fort Atkinson firefighters for their actions in saving its building from fire.
Prior to the department’s regularly scheduled training session, Kennel Club President Jan Holewinski presented the department with a large plaque depicting two news articles that had appeared in the Daily Jefferson County Union in recognition of the heroic actions of all fire and emergency personnel while fighting the Oak Street industrial building fire on Aug. 10, 2021.
The plaque contains the phrase, “In appreciation of the service, dedication and bravery demonstrated by members of the City of Fort Atkinson Fire Department, presented in October 2021 by The Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson Inc.”
In addition, Mabel Schumacher, Kennel Club treasurer, presented Fire Chief Daryl Rausch with an individual plaque citing his leadership and dedication to the Fort Atkinson Fire Department. The plaque features photos of the blaze taken by Chris Spangler of FortAtkinsonOnline.com.
Schumacher explained that she was present the entire afternoon of the Oak Street building fire, and had the opportunity to hear Chief Rausch orchestrating the command center at the site.
“His calm demeanor and experience were demonstrated as he directed firefighting efforts and decisions regarding personnel from numerous other communities and agencies,” Schumacher said.
In addition to the plaques, Kennel Club members treated fire department emergency personnel to special dog bone-shaped thank-you cookies created by Bon Ton Bakery of Jefferson.
“It was because of the ‘dogged determination’ and skills of the emergency personnel that the Kennel Club avoided losing the entirety of its equipment and records” Schumacher noted. “The club’s sincere thank you was much deserved.”
The blaze at the D.B. Oak building, 710 Oak St., destroyed the north side of the large business incubator and warehouse.
The building had two large sections connected by an enclosed concrete walkway. The north side, serving as a transit warehouse, measured approximately 60,000 square feet.
The south side, which serves as office and staging area for several small businesses and the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson, is approximately 250,000 square feet. That side was unaffected by flames, thanks to firefighters’ efforts in stopping the blaze at the connecting walkway to the Kennel Club.
Three firefighters responding to the Oak Street fire were injured during the event, including a firefighter from Fort Atkinson who was seriously injured.
Altogether, some 240 firefighters from about 48 departments in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois responded to the blaze.
Kennel Club Vice President Donna Ingham, from left, Fort Atkinson Fire Chief Daryl Rausch, Kennel Club President Jan Holewinski and Kennel Club Treasurer Mabel Schumacher assemble to present the Fort Atkinson Fire Department with a plaque in appreciation of its efforts in saving the Kennel Club during the Aug. 10 D.B. Oak building blaze. The presentation was made Tuesday. The plaque features stories about the fire as printed in the Daily Jefferson County Union.
Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson Treasurer Mabel Schumacher, at right, presents a personal plaque to Fort Atkinson Fire Chief Daryl Rausch. The plaque contains photos, taken by Chris Spangler of FortAtkinsonOnline.com, of the Aug. 10 Oak Street blaze that destroyed the north section of the D.B. Oak building. Firefighters saved the Kennel Club and other south-side businesses.
Doggie bone-shaped cookies made by Jefferson’s Bon Ton Bakery are among items given to the Fort Atkinson Fire Department by the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson in appreciation of a job well done while fighting the Oak Street fire in August.
Chris Spangler photos.
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