Dec. 29, 2016 – Town of West Bend, WI – On Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 11:04 p.m. the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a house fire at 5523 Silver Lake Road in the Town of West Bend.
The fire was reported by one of the homeowners, who indicated that he and his 83-year-old father were inside the residence and becoming overcome by smoke. The caller said that he was awoken by the smoke detectors going off and a significant amount of smoke in the house.
The West Bend Fire Department was dispatched along with Sheriff’s Deputies. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the West Bend Police Department as well.
The first arriving officer on scene was a West Bend Police Officer who found the house was fully engulfed in flames.
The residence was located on Silver Lake, down a steep embankment off of Silver Lake Drive. He heard calls for help from the homeowners near the house.
He responded and found the 83-year-old homeowner had fallen in the threshold of the residence on the porch and was not able to get up. His son was next to him and not able to move his father by himself. The officer was able to get the homeowners into their personal tram and get them to the roadway.
The 83 year old Town of West Bend man was transported to St Joseph’s Hospital by West Bend Rescue for smoke inhalation as well as burn related injuries. The other homeowner was transported as well for smoke inhalation. The injuries are non-life threatening. The West Bend Police Officer was treated and released from St. Joseph’s Hospital for smoke inhalation.
The West Bend Fire Department responded to the scene and was assisted by the Allenton, Boltonville, Fillmore, Germantown, Hartford, Jackson, Kewaskum, Kohlsville, Newburg, Richfield, Slinger, and St. Lawrence Fire Departments. The blaze took several hours to control.
The house and its contents are considered a total loss.
The fire remains under investigation by the West Bend Fire Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Who is the officer. That officer needs to be recognized! He put him self in danger and saved two lives. I belive wb Fd should also nominate this officer for a heroism award