Out-of-control brush fire destroys barn, grainary, machinery shed, four acres of grassland

WASHINGTON COUNTY (WITI) -- Several departments were called in to battle an out-of-control brush fire in the Town of Trenton on Sunday, May 3rd.

Shortly before 1:00 p.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an out of control brush fire located at 2164 County Highway NN in the Town of Trenton.

Deputies and firefighters from the Newburg Fire Department were subsequently dispatched to the scene.

A Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper was the first to arrive on scene and reported that the roof of a nearby barn had also caught fire and was spreading rapidly. Upon the arrival of fire personnel, the fire had engulfed the barn and spread to a nearby machinery shed. The intense fire, coupled by interment gusty winds, also ignited several acres of nearby brush/grassland.

The Newburg Fire Department received assistance from the Boltonville, Cedarburg, Fillmore, Fredonia, Grafton, Jackson, Kewaskum, Port Washington, Saukville, West Bend, and Waubeka Fire Departments.

We Energies also responded to the scene.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office received assistance with traffic direction by the Wisconsin State Patrol and West Bend Police Department.

The fire destroyed an approximate 80’x40’ barn, an attached 20’x30’ grainary and a 50’x30’ machinery shed (containing several antique tractors and riding lawnmowers). In addition, approximately four acres of brush/grassland was burned.

No damage estimates are available at this time.

None of the buildings contained livestock and there are no reports of firefighter injury.

A preliminary investigation into the cause of the fire suggests that an ember from an attended brush fire, also located on the property, landed on the barn’s roof igniting it. Gusty winds quickly spread and intensified the fire.