Eleven People Homeless After Town of Peshtigo House Fire

Eleven people are homeless after a house fire in the Town of Peshtigo in the early morning hours of Tuesday Feb. 28. The Town of Peshtigo Fire Department received the page at 12:33 a.m. to the Paul Frewerd residence N1437 Hale Road. Marinette County Dispatchers told firefighters while they were in route that fire had already had been through the roof and eleven people were inside. Town of Peshtigo Fire Chief Mike Folgert, upon hearing that report, immediately called for a MABAS box alarm which brought in the City of Marinette, City of Peshtigo, Grover-Porterfield and Pound fire departments for assistance.

Chief Folgert said once his department arrived on scene they could see smoke coming from the second story attic area and set up plans for a search and rescue operation. When Marinette Fire Department arrived on scene they assisted with a search of the home and discovered that all family members had managed to escape the blaze. Damage was extensive to the second story and attic area of the home with smoke and water damage to the lower portion. Firefighters struggled to get the stubborn fire out due to the age of the home and type of construction and were rotated in and out to extinguish the fire. Chief Folgert added that family members escaped the fire with only the clothes they were wearing. He went on to say that the home is inhabitable and that the family had no insurance.  A number of cats and a dog also escaped the blaze. Cause of the fire is believed to be electrical in nature and the Town of Peshtigo Fire Department will continue to investigate according the Folgert. No injuries were reported and the Emergency Rescue Squad and Aurora Bay Area Paramedics assisted family members at the scene. The American Red Cross was also called to assist the family. Other agencies responding to the fire were Wisconsin Public Service, Peshtigo Police Department and the Marinette County Sheriff’s Department. The Town of Peshtigo Fire Department remained on scene till approximately 6 a.m.