(Beaver Dam) Fire crews spent over seven hours combating a blaze at the Executive Apartment Complex on 600 West Third Street in Beaver Dam Saturday morning. The fire was first reported at 6am and by 1pm it had been contained but had not been fully extinguished.
Beaver Dam Fire Captain Paul Hartl says heavy equipment was brought in due to a roof that collapsed during firefighting operations. Hartl says the collapsed roof covered most of the fire which made suppression efforts difficult and says they will be able to attack the rest of the blaze once the roof is completely removed. He says they are still working on an accountability report of all the tenants of the 17-unit apartment building.
Multiple occupants needed to be rescued from the fire and five individuals were taken to local hospitals for treatment. No update has been giving on their condition. Hartl says one firefighter was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Alcohol, Tabaco and Firearms was called to assist as well as the Division of Criminal Investigation but Hartl says it is too early to determine what caused the blaze. Hartl could not comment on the extent of the damage but says it was significant.
Several residents reported cloudy water coming from their taps. The Beaver Dam Water Department says that it is not a water safety issue but a quality issue. The cause was from the amount of water that was flowing through the city’s system which stirred up sediments in the pipes. Hartl says the water should clear throughout the weekend but if it does not he suggests calling the Water Department on Monday at 920-887-4624.
St. Vincent de Paul has set up an Emergency Response Fund at the American Bank for those affected by the fire. Monetary donations can be made at the three Beaver Dam locations and non-monetary donations are being collected at the St. Vincent De Paul Store on 125 Dodge Drive in Beaver Dam.
Assisting at the scene was Horicon EMS & Fire Department, Juneau Fire Department, Watertown Paramedics, Burnett Fire Department, Clyman Fire Department, Hustisford Fire Department and First Responders, Lowell Fire Department, Mayville Fire Department and EMS, Randolph Fire Department, Reeseville Fire Department, Waupun Fire Department, Columbus Fire Department, Fox Lake Fire Department, Dodge County Emergency Management, Dodge County Public Health, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Beaver Dam DPW, ATF, DCI, State Patrol, and the State Fire Marshall’s Office.
Beaver Dam Fire Captain Paul Hartl – 10:30am Press Conference
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Beaver Dam Fire Captain Paul Hartl – 1pm Press Conference
