March 10, 2024 – Woodland, Wi – A devastating fire Saturday night, March 9, 2024, at Mardi Gras Bar in Woodland in neighboring Dodge County. Fifteen fire departments were on scene. Nobody was injured but damage was extensive. The story below is from Iron Ridge Fire Chief Jason Keller.
At 8:58 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2024, the Iron Ridge Fire Department and First Responders and automatic mutual aid partners Hustisford and Neosho Fire Departments were paged for smoke coming out of a building at N5003 County Road WS at Mardi Gras Bar in Woodland, WI.
Iron Ridge Chief went enroute at 9:03 p.m. and arrived on scene at 9:06 p.m.
Upon arrival smoke was found coming from the building with audible smoke alarms sounding.
A 360 of the building indicated heavy smoke throughout the first floor with the fire most likely in the kitchen area.
At 9:06 p.m. Iron Ridge Command requested mutual aid to the working still level.
Iron Ridge Fire operated in the offensive mode making entry into the rear of the building into the kitchen area finding smoke, heat and fire in the kitchen.
Hustisford Fire made entry into the front door, bar area and discovered heavy smoke conditions and slight extension into the bar area.
At 9:11 p.m. Iron Ridge Command requested mutual aid assistance to the 1st alarm.
Interior crews were faced with heavy smoke conditions. Vertical roof ventilation operations were performed to clear smoke from the building, allowing fire crews to more efficiently check for fire extension in the walls. Fire crews were challenged by a multi-layer multi–material roof and previous additions to the building resulting in roofs over roofs and multiple void spaces and chases for heat, fire and smoke to travel.
Fire extension was discovered in multiple void areas and old floors which required extensive overhaul operations.
At this time the cause of the fire is under investigation. No civilians or fire personnel were injured during the incident and one resident was displaced as a result of the fire and is receiving assistance from family and the American Red Cross.
All units cleared the scene at 1:05 a.m.
