July 16, 2024 – Germantown, WI – On Monday, July 15, 2024, at 10:06 p.m. the Germantown Fire Department was dispatched for a tree that was struck by lightning and was now on fire on the corner of Starlight Rd and Pilgrim Rd. Upon arrival, the tree had been extinguished by a neighbor but there was a strong natural gas odor and the ground near the tree was erupting with natural gas.
Germantown fire crews were unable to shut off the gas as it was underground; handlines were deployed for structure protection. Shortly after our arrival, a concerned neighbor advised about 8 houses away that the residence was on fire. The call was upgraded to box card 17-1-1 to the Working Still level.
One unit from the Starlight and Pilgrim Rd call was able to respond to Venus Ct. and Moonlight Dr. where a gas meter that was next to a residence had blown apart and caught on fire, and was traveling to the eaves of the structure. The first arriving unit was able to extinguish the fire using a fire extinguisher but was unable to secure the gas utility.
The next arriving units shut off the gas on the Venus Ct. residence and began ventilating the structure. Other mutual aid companies assisted by metering residences on Moonlight Dr., Venus Ct., and Starlight Dr. The odor of natural gas could be smelled for several blocks around these incidents. Several residences in the area were evacuated out of precaution.
Fire Department crews were operating at these incidents for approximately 3 hours before the scene was turned over to WE Energies and the homeowners were allowed to return to their residences.
The Village of Germantown had three other emergency requests for assistance while operating at these two locations. The Germantown Fire Department would like to thank the responding agencies who assisted us in preventing a disaster and keeping our community safe.
Menomonee Falls Fire Dept.
Grafton Fire Dept.
Hartford Fire Dept.
Jackson Fire Dept.
Lisbon Fire Dept.
Slinger Fire Dept.
Richfield Volunteer Fire Co.
Southern Ozaukee Fire Dept.
West Bend Fire Dept.
WE Energies
