"A lot of heavy smoke:" Plume of smoke visible for miles, barn a total loss after large fire in Town of Trenton

TOWN OF TRENTON (WITI) -- About a dozen fire departments were called out to a large barn fire in the Town of Trenton on Sunday, February 15th.

A large plume of smoke could be seen for miles after the barn located near the intersection of County Road NN and County Road G caught fire. This, as firefighters spent hours out in the cold trying to bring the fire under control.

"I can't even see anything. It's just smoke. The whole city knows this place is going down right now," Abby Greene said.

"We saw the smoke all the way from West Bend," Greg Staiduher said.

Family members tell FOX6 News the barn held a lot of lumber for the owner's woodworking business. A Town of Trenton police officer was the first to respond around 3:00 p.m.

"Came on scene -- a lot of heavy smoke. Fire started at the back of the barn and within seconds it moved to the beginning, to the front of the barn. It went from the back of the barn to the front within a couple seconds," Town of Trenton Police Officer Nic Nygren said.

It appears the fire also spread to the main house on the property. A neighbor shot video at the height of the blaze.

The photos you'll see below were sent in to FOX6 News by viewer Steve King.



Family members say everyone was able to escape without injury.

"The barn's gone and the house is going. I grew up there. My dad used to own it and my brother just bought it from him and he has the woodworking shop and my sister rents from him," Anne Greene said.

"I lived there when I was in kindergarten and first grade. That was my house when I grew up. I lived at Grandpa's house, so it's really hard to see it going down, and to see the memories of everybody and Grandma, who's not here was always there with us, so it's hard," Abby Greene said.

With temperatures in the teens and hours passing, steps were taken to protect first responders from the cold.

"In the far back there`s a heat tent there. We huddle in there. It keeps everybody warm. It is extremely cold," Nygren said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The barn is a total loss, but firefighters were able to save much of the home.

The following departments responded to the fire: West Bend, Fillmore, Jackson, Newberg, Cedarburg, Grafton, Slinger, Port Washington, Fredonia, Boltonville, Saukville, Waubeka and Kewauskum.