May 16, 2022 – Newburg, WI – On Sunday, May 15, 2022, a house fire was reported to the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. Below is the report from the responding deputy courtesy Sheriff Martin R. Schulteis:
“I arrived on scene and located a woodshed fully engulfed in fire along with a nearby playset. The fire was moving in a northwestern direction towards the property located at 5901 S Oak Road. I obtained two Newburg Fire extinguishers and began battling the blaze that was spreading onto the 5901 S. Oak Road property.
Numerous fire departments responded and put out the fire which spread over approximately half an acre. The homeowner and his wife returned home.
The homeowner advised that he had been burning a brush pile on May 15, 2022, in the evening. He stated that he doused it before he went to bed. He stated that the woodshed contained a riding lawn mower, a push mower, a pressure washer, tree stands, and miscellaneous decorations.
I made contact with the neighbor to the west. Some of the areas that burnt were on his property, but he stated he did not sustain any property loss. I also confirmed with the neighbor to the north all she sustained was some burnt grass and bushes.
The homeowner estimated the total damage to the contents of the shed and playset at approximately $17,900.
Upon examining the burnt area, it appeared the fire originated from the burn pile on the west side of the residence as that area had burnt out upon my arrival while the shed and playset were fully engulfed. Nothing suspicious was located.”