December 2, 2024 – Hartford, WI – At approximately 12:05 a.m. on December 2, 2024, Hartford Fire & Rescue responded to Budd Street for the report of a garage on fire. The first arriving fire engine found a detached garage on fire, two vehicles inside the garage on fire, and one car outside of the garage on fire.
Hartford Police Department officers confirmed all occupants evacuated the house, which was dangerously close to the burning garage. A very rapid attack was initiated to extinguish the fire. EMS crews provided rehabilitation efforts to the firefighters.
No citizens or fire rescue personnel were injured in this incident. Mutual aid assistance was provided from Slinger Fire Department and St Lawrence Fire Company, along with help from Hartford Electric Utility and WE Energies who assessed the electric and gas utilities.
A towing service also aided in moving the damaged vehicles so overhaul could be completed to assure the fire was extinguished.
The detached garage was fully destroyed by fire, along with the three vehicles. One of the tenant’s vehicles was also minimally damaged by fire and heat.
The house and another detached building only sustained very minimal radiant heat damage due to the rapid attack and fire extinguishment by fire personnel. If it were not for this rapid response, the house and detached secondary structure would have burned as well.
A fire investigator from Hartford Fire & Rescue along with a detective from Hartford Police Department conducted an origin and cause fire investigation, and upon completion the property was turned back over to the homeowner.
The fire was linked to a vehicle left running in the garage for an extended period of time.
