Brookfield brush fire; homes evacuated, crews extinguish flames

BROOKFIELD, Wis. - Several crews were on the scene of a brush fire in Brookfield on Sunday, March 9.

What we know:

The Brookfield Fire Department said the fire broke out on W. Capitol Drive near Brookfield Road just after 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Nearby homes were evacuated.

Crews started an aggressive outside fire attack on the fire, which eventually spread from Brookfield Road west to the Fox River, and from Capitol Drive north to Compton Lane. Wind gusts were nearly 30 miles an hour.

The fire was brought under control at 5 p.m. and extinguished by 6:15 p.m.

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The fire department said at least 12 other crews are assisting with the fire.

What they're saying:

"I just saw the smoke just billowing up – it was absolutely crazy," Pewaukee resident Rachel Monday said. "It’s just so darn windy that the flames kept jumping and jumping."

"I saw dark, dark smoke. And then as I drove by it just combusted," Brookfield resident Dennis Petersdorf said. "I can’t believe it didn’t get the car dealership because it was traveling so fast."

Evacuations

Local perspective:

Giovanni Militello could hardly believe what was happening around him. Brookfield police knocked at his door at around 2 p.m. and told his family to leave.

Everyone living on Chapel Hill Drive and Compton Lane – just west of Brookfield – was evacuated.

"There was just a big cloud of smoke, embers flying around.  It was like a doomsday movie," he said. "It was just non-stop.  Every minute it was moving, feet by feet."

Militello took his dogs and didn’t look back. For the rest of the night, he’s keeping his backyard sprinklers on just in case.

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Militello said it would have taken just one big gust of wind to wipe out everything he has.