January 4, 2025 – Hartford, WI – At approximately 5:01 p.m. on January 3, 2025, Hartford Fire & Rescue responded to James Court for the report of a house on fire.
The first arriving command vehicle found a two-story town house with the attached adjoining garages on fire, a vehicle inside the garage on fire, and one vehicle outside of the garage on fire. Hartford Police Department officers along with the Command unit confirmed that all occupants had evacuated both sides of the town house.
A rapid attack was initiated by the first arriving fire engine to extinguish the garage fires and vehicle fire. Crews then made entry into both units to attack the fire which had spread to the attics.
Additional crews vented the roof over both units to remove dangerous fire gases, heat, and smoke. EMS crews provided rehabilitation efforts to the firefighters and provided accountability of units on scene.
No citizens or fire rescue personnel were injured in this incident. Occupants from both sides of the town house were displaced by the fire.
Assistance was provided from Hartford Electric & Water Utilities and WE Energies who shut off the electric, water, and gas utilities, and Hartford Public Works provided road salt and personnel to assist with controlling ice as the freezing temperatures quickly froze the fire scene.
Mutual aid assistance was provided through MABAS first at the Working Still level and then elevated to the 1st box level by: Slinger Fire Department, St Lawrence Fire Company, Lifestar Ambulance, Jackson Fire Department, Richfield Fire Department, and Neosho Fire Department.
The garages were fully destroyed by fire, along with both vehicles. Both units sustained minimal fire damage in the housing areas due to the rapid attack and fire extinguishment by fire personnel, but did experience smoke and water damage on all levels.
The attics of both units experienced fire damage. If not for this rapid response and fire attack, the entire building would have quickly been fully consumed by fire.
A fire investigator from Hartford Fire & Rescue along with a detective from Hartford Police Department conducted an origin and cause fire investigation.
The fire was determined to be linked to a construction waste container which was located just outside of the garage.
January 3, 2025 – Hartford, WI – Six departments are on scene of a structure fire in the 800 block of St. James Court in Hartford, Wi.
The first call came in around just after 5 p.m.
Departments on scene include Hartford, Slinger, St. Lawrence, Richfield, Neosho, and Jackson. Lifestar is also on scene.
This is a working story and more information will be provided when details are available.