Midwest Fire Response

Busy night for lightning-caused structure fires in Columbia County, Wisconsin.

👉 Several inches of rain is forecast for the next 24 hrs. Do not drive through standing / flooded water if you must be out in these storms.

Pictured: Delton Fire Department’s Engine 2, a 2023 Marion Enclosed Top Mount Engine on a Spartan chassis. Photo taken 9/12/26.

Just before 2 AM Saturday, September 5th, your Fitchburg Fire Rescue was called to a multi-family apartment building at the corner of Coho Street and Pike Drive in Fitchburg for a reported structure fire.

Scanner traffic indicated that flames were visible on the upper floor exterior of the building on the Charlie side.

Primary search and fire suppression resulted in a rapid stop and knock-down of the fire. Extension was found and also extinguished.

Scanner traffic indicated a second ambulance from your Fitch-Rona EMS was called to assist with parties who may have been exposed to smoke.

Both ambulances remained on scene and EMS crews also monitored firefighter rehab.

Personnel from your Verona (WI) Fire Department and City of Madison Fire Department’s Engine 6 also responded to assist with evacuation, fire suppression, and overhaul operations.

Your Fitchburg, Wisconsin - Police Department assisted with traffic control.

At the time of this posting (5:00 AM) fire units are still on scene. No further information is available regarding injuries, how many families may have been displaced, or the cause of the fire.

The quick response and well-honed skills of these professional firefighters quickly halted the spread of the fire, preventing what could’ve been a devastating blow for many families. The three departments worked together seamlessly to ensure residents’ safety.

At about 4:30 PM on Sunday, August 30th, your Fitchburg Fire Rescue was paged to Pick N Save on Cahill Main (Fish Hatchery Rd.) for the report of smoke in the meat department.

According to scanner traffic, the first engine on scene reported visible smoke coming from the roof. Upon entry, smoke was present inside the store with many people also still inside.

Fitchburg’s ladder truck was positioned behind the store to gain better access to the roof, and City of Madison Fire Department’s Engine 6 provided hydrant access to supply water for the fire attack.

Verona (WI) Fire Department’s Squad 5 also assisted with evacuating shoppers and store employees, determining the fire’s source, and overhaul.

Scanner traffic indicated the source of the smoke and fire was a fan on the roof, and it was quickly extinguished.

The crews from the 3 departments interfaced in seamless lockstep, working in smooth unison on the fire ground.

Emergency medical support was provided by Fitch-Rona EMS, while Fitchburg, Wisconsin - Police Department assisted with traffic/crowd control.

Crews cleared after nearly 3 hours.

At the time of this posting, we are not aware of whether there were any injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

At approximately 4:45 PM on Friday, August 14, 2026, your Sun Prairie Fire & EMS responded to East MacArthur Street for the report of a structure fire. Scanner traffic indicated that flames were visible from a residence.

Sun Prairie activated the MABAS Mutual Aid Box Alarm for neighboring fire departments to assist with the fire on scene, as well as provide vital station coverage.

First due Engine 1 from Sun Prairie Station 1 ensured the homeowner and 3 dogs had safely evacuated, and immediately attacked the fire coming from the garage.

Engine 3 from Sun Prairie’s Station 2 utilized a transitional attack, approaching the fire from inside the house to prevent it from spreading farther into the structure.

Fire that had extended to the attic was extinguished.

The MABAS Box was canceled before most mutual aid partners were able to reach the scene.

MABAS partner City of Madison Fire Department Engine 11 assisted with fire attack and overhaul.

Cottage Grove Fire Department Car 1, DeForest Windsor Fire & EMS Car 2, and a Madison Fire Chief also responded.

McFarland Fire and Rescue covered change of quarters.

Disregarded MABAS partners included Dane Volunteer Fire Department, Fitchburg Fire Department, Columbus Fire Department, and Waunakee Fire Department.

The home’s close proximity to Station 1, crews’ rapid response from both stations, and the transitional attack successfully prevented the fire from spreading to the rest of the house as well as neighboring homes.

Crews cleared the scene after approx. 3 hours and 45 minutes. The cause of the fire has not yet been released.

A true team effort pulling together multiple jurisdictions across Dane County. 🤝

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Springfield, WI – July 19th, 2026, The Waunakee Area Fire District along with several mutual aid departments responded to a structure fire in the 6400 Block of State Highway 19 in the Town of Springfield. Due to the rural location and the absence of a municipal water system, the incident escalated to a third alarm for tenders to establish and maintain a continuous water shuttle operation.

Firefighters arrived to find a working fire involving a multi-tenant storage facility and immediately initiated suppression operations while establishing a water supply. As the incident progressed, additional mutual aid departments were requested to provide tenders, engines, and personnel. The coordinated tender shuttle operation ensured a continuous water supply and allowed crews to bring the fire under control despite the challenges associated with the rural location.

Firefighters remained on scene for several hours conducting fire suppression, overhaul, extinguishing remaining hot spots, and investigating the cause. The structure sustained significant fire damage.

At this time, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, and no determination regarding the origin has been made. Because the incident involved a multi-tenant storage facility, a damage estimate is not available at this time. Investigators are continuing to assess the scene and work with property representatives to determine the extent of the loss.

Incident Summary
Incident- Structure Fire
Location- 6400 Block of State Highway 19
Time Dispatched- 1:10 a.m.
Gallons of Water Used- 112,000 Gallons of Water
Injures- None
Cause- Under Investigation
Damage Estimate- Undetermined at this time
Incident Cleared- 1:10 p.m.

Acknowledgements
The Waunakee Fire District extends its sincere gratitude to the following partners for their assistance:

Dane County Sheriff's Office, Waunakee Police Department, Waunakee EMS, Madison Gas and Electric, Waunakee Utilities, Arlington Fire Department, Cross Plains Fire Department, Cross Plains EMS, Deforest Windsor Fire Department, Dane Fire Department, Fitchburg Fire Department, Lodi Fire Department, McFarland Fire Department, Middleton Fire Department, Middleton EMS, Sauk Prairie Fire Department, Sun Prairie Fire Department, Truax Fire Department, City of Madison Fire Department, Salvation Army, and Dane County Communication Center.

Respectfully submitted,
Chief Josh McWilliams
Waunakee Fire District