FOR CITY TIMES

NEKOOSA – Two garages were total losses, and their adjacent homes suffered significant fire and water damage, in a weekend fire in Nekoosa.

According to a press release from Chief Mike Hartje, the Nekoosa Fire Department was dispatched just after 6 p.m. on July 30 to a garage fire at 420 S. Section Street. Upon arrival, crews encountered a detached garage fully engulfed in flames and smoke, with fire quickly spreading to the home on the property, along with an adjacent house and detached garage at 412 S. Section St.

Crews immediately requested assistance from the Port Edwards Fire Department, and subsequent box alarms also summoned Wisconsin Rapids Fire and EMS, along with the Grand Rapids, Rome, Pittsville, Biron and Rudolph Fire Departments, plus Nekoosa EMS, police and DPW, Port Edwards PD, and Wood County Sheriff’s Department, with additional assistance provided by Wood County Dispatch, Alliant Energy and We Energies.

Crews had the structure fires contained and under control in less than one hour, preventing total loss to homes and property. Crews also kept the fire from spreading to nearby homes at 408 and 422 S. Section St.

Garages at 412 and 420 S. Section St. are considered total losses, with their respective homes suffering “significant exterior and interior fire and water damage,” according to the press release.

Fire crews remained on the scene until 2:30 the following morning, doing cleanup, and looking for and extinguishing hot spots. The Nekoosa Fire Department returned to the scene at 9:30 Sunday morning to perform final cleanup and investigative duties.

There were no injuries to firefighters, residents or bystanders, and all pets were accounted for and reported to be okay as well.