Lake Geneva house fire, 1 person rescued with help from police
Fire scene near Madison and George in Lake Geneva
LAKE GENEVA, Wis. - One person was rescued from a house fire in Lake Geneva on Friday, Dec. 13.
According to the Lake Geneva Fire Department, at 10:38 a.m., crews were dispatched to a report of a structure fire near Madison Street and George Street with a person trapped inside the building.
Engine 281 arrived on the scene in less than two minutes and reported a fire in the two-unit building.
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The only exterior staircase that goes to the second floor was being consumed by fire. Engine 281 and Med 281 began suppression and rescue efforts while also looking for other ways to access the person in the upper unit.
Upon reaching the back of the building, the person was found being helped down a ladder by Lake Geneva Police Department officers. Those officers found the ladder nearby and extended it to the upper window.
Two other people were able to get out of the lower unit on their own.
The fire was quickly extinguished, and the building required extensive overhaul due to its age and how it was configured.
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The cause is under investigation, and no criminal activity is suspected.
One person was assessed on scene with minor injuries but was not transported.
"We are thankful for the prompt actions of Officers Walser and Bouland," said Chief John Peters. "Their resourcefulness and willingness to act resulted in minimizing injuries to the trapped victim. Residents are reminded to ensure they have working smoke detectors, have two ways out of their home, and practice their escape plan frequently. A special thank you to our mutual aid partners for their prompt response and assistance ".