VIDEO: Crews were able to put out a house fire near Cadott Monday, but several family pets were lost.
Cadott Fire Chief Rick Sommerfield told News 18 a passerby called in the fire just before noon. The house is located on 270th Street, north of 120th Avenue in the township of Goetz.
Sommerfield said no one was home at the time, but several dogs and a cat were lost in the fire. He said the house is likely a total loss between the fire, smoke and water damage.
A preliminary investigation suggests the cause was electrical.
Crews from Cadott, Cornell, Anson and Boyd responded and were on the scene for a little over three hours.
WQOW-TV ABC 18 Eau Claire
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VIDEO: Eau Claire Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Robert Haller is contending with employee turnover.
Between the retirements and others leaving the force, Haller said a recently acquired grant should further help with the staffing shortage.
This comes as they look to hire 6 new firefighters after Eau Claire voters helped pass a public safety referendum last year. But, the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant from the Department of Homeland Security allows for even more.
“And this one we put in for six firefighters at a cost of just over $2 million. This funding will keep us afloat basically for the next three years,” said Deputy Chief Haller.
The 12 new hires should keep the number of staff at around 96. Haller said the gran money will help offset some costs from the force being stretched thin.
WEAU-TV NBC 13 Eau Claire
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VIDEO: A semi-truck driver whose cab burst into flames at a Verona gas station was able to escape the fire even though his driver-side door would not open.
Verona Fire Chief Dan Machotka said the Iowa resident's semi-truck had an apparent mechanical issue Friday, so the man drove the truck into a Kwik Trip's lot at 2145 County Road PB.
Machotka said the truck stalled and moments later the driver sensed there was a fire.
"Tried to get out," Machotka said of the driver. "Unfortunately, his door wouldn't work."
Machotka said the driver was able to jump out the passenger window, slightly injuring himself in the process.
"He was definitely shocked," Machotka said. "We had an ambulance [crew] take a look at him just to make sure he was all right."
WXOW-TV ABC 19 La Crosse
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