At approximately 6:15 am the Cedar Grove Fire Department was dispatched to a working house fire on West Smies Rd. in the Town of Holland, unknown if people were inside. The house was unoccupied at the time of the fire, as the residents were out of town. Numerous residents called 911 to report the two-story house on fire. Upon arrival crews found two-story balloon frame home with flames showing from the B-side first and second floors as well as fire through the roof.
"(The cause) hasn’t been determined yet, but (a lightning strike) certainly is possible - you know what the weather was like last night," said Lt. Jim Risseeuw of the Sheboygan County Sheriffs Department. Even as firefighters worked to fight the blaze, lightning struck about 100 yards from the home." (The Sheboygan Press) The weather also hindered the efforts of the fire department as strong winds pushed the fire through the house.
Departments that responded the blaze were Cedar Grove Fire and Rescue, Port Washington, Belgium, Random Lake, Town of Sheboygan Falls, Town of Wilson, Silver Creek, Oostburg and Adell. The Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department, Sheboygan County Investigation Unit and Oostburg Ambulance were also on the scene. All units cleared the scene at approximately 1:00 pm.
Over 230,000 gallons were used to extinguish the fire. Also, one firefighter was injured, but was treated and released later in the morning.
