Wis. Firefighter Falls Through Floor, Escapes Injury

Aug. 26--A Milton firefighter was taken to a hospital for observation after he fell through the floor of a burning single-family home in Fort Atkinson Sunday.

The firefighter, Michael Soehner, 41, a six-year veteran with the Milton Fire Department, was taken to the hospital as a precaution and was released, Milton Deputy Chief Chis Lukas said. He added that Soehner was "very lucky" and everyone there was grateful he came out unscathed.

Seven fire departments assisted the Fort Atkinson Fire Department in fighting the blaze at a two-story home at 3 W. Hilltop Trail, Fort Atkinson firefighter Jill Reifsnider said.

Reifsnider said the fire was difficult to fight because the fire "kept moving" between the two floors and the basement. The fire began sometime before 8:30 a.m., and firefighters were still cleaning up at 2 p.m.

No one was home at the time the fire started and there were no injuries, she said.

The fire department suspects the fire began in the basement, but the cause of the fire was not yet clear, she said.

The house sustained "significant damage" but Reifsnider was not sure if it would be called a total loss as of 2 p.m.

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