Six Wisconsin Departments Battle Wind-Driven House Fire

Authorities said an early-morning fire destroyed a Fitchburg home. The blaze apparently broke out around 4 a.m. on Bryn Wood Drive in the Seminole Hills subdivision. The people in the home said that they heard an explosion and then saw flames, WISC-TV reported. Fire officials said the windy conditions made battling the blaze even more difficult for responders. "When our first unit pulled up, there was very heavy fire coming from the back side of the residence, and literally, within just a couple of minutes, the fire had moved from one end to the other of the house. The fire spread very, very rapidly," said Randall Pickering, Fitchburg interim fire chief. Pickering said that the three residents of the home got out safely, but the house was a total loss. Property records indicated the home's value at about $700,000. Six fire departments teamed up to put the fire out and were successful at keeping the flames from spreading to neighboring houses despite strong winds and low temperatures, WISC-TV reported.