Press Release
City of Fitchburg, WI
Friday, April 15, 2016
The Fitchburg Fire Department received a pre-alert at 6:08 PM for a fire in the area near McCoy Road and U.S. Highway 14. The initial caller to the Dane County Communications Center (911) was unable to provide the exact address, but said it appeared that a garage was on fire in a residential area west of Highway 14. Additional calls received by the 911 Center gave the location of the fire as 4982 West Clayton Road in the City of Fitchburg.
Deputy Fire Chief Richard Roth was the first firefighter to arrive at the West Clayton Road address at 6:12 PM. Chief Roth confirmed that the fire was in a detached 35 ft. by 35 ft. garage located at the rear of the property.
Several bystanders said the garage was initially unoccupied but that the property owner had gone back into the garage and was attempting to save a pick-up truck that was parked inside. The owner was able to drive the truck out and was not injured while doing so.
With assistance from a neighbor using a garden hose, Chief Roth used a dry chemical fire extinguisher to keep the fire in check until Fitchburg Engine 1 arrived at 6:15 PM. The fire was reported knocked down at 6:17 PM.
No dollar estimate has been made for damage to the garage itself; however, the pick-up truck that was removed from the garage sustained about $4,000 damage to paint and trim as a result of exposure to radiant heat from the building fire.
No injuries to residents or firefighters were reported.
The origin and cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Assisting agencies included Fitchburg Police and Fitch-Rona EMS.
The Fitchburg Fire Department would like to remind readers that they should never re-enter a burning building in an attempt to save personal property. Heat, smoke, and other gases generated during a fire will quickly disorient you and interfere with your ability to breathe.
Don’t become a victim of fire. Get out of a burning building as quickly as possible. Once you are out, call 911 to report the fire. Finally, stay out until the fire is extinguished and firefighters say that it is safe for you to re-enter.
For further information, contact:
Deputy Fire Chief Richard Roth
608-278-2980
Richard.Roth@fitchburgwi.gov