Thirty-seven 911 calls came in after reported 'explosion' heard in Jackson; man cited for bonfire

TOWN OF JACKSON -- Officials with the Washington County Sheriff's Office on Saturday evening, April 16th handled 37 calls regarding an explosion and fire on Sherman Road.

The first call came in around 8:45 p.m. -- from an individual reporting a home had exploded and was fully engulfed with flames.

Officials with the Jackson Fire Department and Washington County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene.

While responding, an additional 37 calls came in -- from residents as far away as Slinger and West Bend.

Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that there was not a house on fire.

The flames were from a large bonfire in a field behind the home that had just been started.

Officials say the man who started the fire indicated that he had started the fire in the same manner that he has in the past and that after the fire was started someone may have thrown some fireworks into the fire. Based on the size of the explosion, it is believed that a large amount of an unknown accelerant was used in the starting of the fire which resulted in the loud explosion.

The 36-year-old Jackson man who started the fire will be cited for disorderly conduct.

No one was hurt.