SHEBOYGAN, Wis. -- Sheboygan area fire crews responded to a pair of fires last night.
The first fire was a garage fire on the 2100 block of Carmen Avenue at around 6pm. Crews arrived on scene to find a small fire growing inside the structure. The owners of the home had attempted to put the fire out themselves, but called 911 when it grew out of their control. Battalion Chief Tim Kohlbeck says he appreciates the initiative. "Sometimes it's worth trying to put out a fire, but it's never worth risking your life. They did the right thing, they tried to put it out, but they got out of there when they realized it was bigger than they could handle." The home suffered minor smoke damage and no one was injured.
Crews were later called out to the 3600 block of North 17th Street in the Town of Sheboygan for a shed fire around 8 pm. When crews arrived, they found the building fully engulfed in flames, and learned that there were a number of large LP gas tanks inside the building. Kohlbeck says that posed a very significant danger. "Just to be on the side of caution, we put out an order to evacuate an area of about two blocks around the area of the fire."
Kohlbeck says crews were able to get in close enough to the fire to ensure that an explosion didn't occur. "They did a good job of making a good stop. They were able to water on those tanks quickly enough to prevent an explosion, and everything worked out in the end." The building was a total loss and a number of nearby homes suffered siding damage from the extreme heat of the fire.
Both fires remain under investigation.
by Raymond Neupert WHBL