Sheboygan, WI (WHBL) – Sheboygan Firefighters say a fire that broke out at a home on South 15th Street Monday afternoon started in the bathroom of an upstairs apartment unit. Residents dialed 911 after seeing smoke rising from apartment number 1107 A.
In a press release issued late Monday, Battalion Chief Keith Risse says firefighters forced entry into the apartment and discovered fire in a bathroom trash can, which investigators suspect was caused by a discarded cigarette. The case could have been far worse for residents living in the apartment, as fire investigators also discovered that the smoke detector was removed and there was no means of warning residents of the fire, before it was too late.
“The Sheboygan Fire Department would like to remind the public of the importance of having working smoke detectors in their homes. These devices provide early detection of fires and significantly reduce property damage and civilian injuries,“ Risse says.
There were no injuries associated with this fire. Damage to the apartment is estimated at $3,000.