Unattended frying pan leads to fire in Racine that killed a resident's cat
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine Fire officials say a resident left a frying pan with cooking oil unattended while watching the news -- and that led to a fire at a home in the 1400 block of College Avenue on March 16th.It happened shortly after 8:00 p.m.Fire officials say the fire was contained to the kitchen, bedroom and dining room.Four cats were in the home at the time of the fire.
Racine Fire Department rescues two teens stranded on Lake Michigan ice chunk
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine firefighters rescued two teens that were stranded on a chunk of ice on Lake Michigan located behind the Racine Zoo.A sheet of ice breaks off shore, sending the teens into open and very dangerous waters.A photograph taken by Racine Uncovered, shows the teens adrift on a slab of ice that broke off from shore around 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 7th.
Family dog killed in fire in Racine that caused $60,000 in damage
RACINE (WITI) -- The family dog was killed in a fire in Racine Wednesday, March 4th that caused $60,000 in damage.The fire broke out shortly before 1:30 p.m. at a home in the 1500 block of Main Street.When fire crews arrived on scene, there were flames coming from the first floor windows on the east and south side of the home.The occupants of the home were able to get themselves out of the home.Two cats were rescued from an upper unit, but the family dog died in the lower unit as a result of the fire.The American Red Cross was called out to the scene to assist the tenants living in the lower unit.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
"I just seen big flames:" Man alerts neighbor his home is on fire, gets family to safety
RACINE (WITI) -- An alert neighbor noticed a fire at a home on Loraine Avenue in Racine late Monday night, February 16th.
Occupants of two apartment units in Racine being assisted by Red Cross after fire
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine Fire officials say the occupants of two apartment units are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross following a fire Sunday, February 8th.It happened in the 1800 block of Roosevelt Avenue shortly after 3:00 p.m.Fire officials say the occupants of the unit where the fire originated were not home at the time.Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire that is believed to have originated in a living room wall.The apartment unit below the unit where the fire originated had its ceiling collapse due to the water used to put out the fire.The fire caused $18,000 in damage to the structure, and $12,000 in damage to contents.
Racine Fire officials: Cordless drill left on stove led to fire that caused $25,000 in damage
RACINE (WITI) -- Fire officials in Racine say a fire originating from a stove that was left on unattended resulted in $25,000 in damage to a home Tuesday, February 3rd.It happened around 4:15 p.m. at a home on Erie Street.Fire officials say a resident left the home after inadvertently bumping the stove -- turning it on.
Two hurt after fire breaks out in home near Summit Avenue & High Street in Racine
RACINE (WITI) -- Two people were transported to the hospital Wednesday, December 10th following a house fire in Racine.Fire crews responded to a home on Summit Avenue near High Street just after 8 p.m.According to officials, two residents sustained burn injuries while trying to extinguish flames in their kitchen.
Family dog dies in house fire that leads to $150,000 in estimated losses
RACINE (WITI) -- Fire officials in Racine say a dog was killed, and a firefighter was injured in a house fire Tuesday afternoon, November 11th.It happened at a home on Wind Point Road just before 2:00 p.m.Fire officials say a neighbor noticed smoke coming from both house chimneys and called 911.The family dog was the only one home at the time.The first floor of the home partially collapsed into the basement as firefighters arrived on scene, hampering their efforts to extinguish the fire.
A tough fire fight: Newspaper carrier sees vacant home on fire in Racine & alerts fire crews
RACINE (WITI) -- Fire officials in Racine say an alert newspaper carrier noticed a vacant home on fire early Sunday morning, August 31st, and called 911.It was around 4:30 a.m. Sunday when the newspaper carrier discovered fire at a home on Racine's near north side.Fire officials responded to the vacant, two-story home in the 1800 block of Geneva Street.There, firefighters encountered compromised floors that eventually burned away in the areas of the first and second floor.Fire officials say due to burned away structural components, portions of walls and floors were observed to have moved as much as 18 inches while crews were on scene.It took about 45 minutes for fire crews to extinguish this fire.No one was injured.Damage is estimated at $50,000.The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Overheated mechanism in toy vehicle leads to early morning garage fire in Racine
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine fire officials say it is believed an overheated mechanism in a toy vehicle stored in a garage led to a garage fire early Tuesday morning, July 22nd.It happened at a home in the 2200 block of Summit Avenue -- just before 2:30 a.m.Fire officials were called out to the home when the occupant noticed smoke coming from the garage.
Racine Fire officials: Kitchen fire displaces family, leaves behind thousands of dollars in damage
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine fire officials say a kitchen fire Sunday, July 20th has displaced a family, and caused $20,000 in damage.Fire officials say the family has been displaced due to a fire that originated in their kitchen while they were out in their backyard.No one was injured.The family was on their patio, when a neighbor noticed smoke coming from a kitchen window.The neighbor notified the family that their house was on fire, and a 911 call was made.The fire was extinguished within 10 minutes of the arrival of fire crews -- but extensive damage had already been done.The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Racine Fire Department: Kid playing with lighter caused Racine house fire
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine fire crews responded to a two-story, two-family home near 13th and Cleveland Avenue in Racine on Tuesday, July 15th after a fire broke out.According to officials, the fire broke out in a bed in an upper unit bedroom due to the careless use of lighter by a 14-year-old boy.Authorities say the boy thought he extinguished the fire and left room.
Racine Fire officials: Working smoke alarm likely saved lives of eight-year-old boy & two adults
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine Fire officials say a fire, believed to have been started by children playing with a lighter, sent a woman to the hospital.It happened early Sunday morning, July 6th -- just after 7:30 a.m., at a duplex in the 1600 block of Grove Avenue.Fire officials say a working smoke alarm likely saved the lives of an eight-year-old boy and two adult women.The beeping smoke alarm woke a grandmother, who found smoke coming from a second floor bedroom.She entered that burning bedroom -- and took her eight-year-old grandson out safely -- and was able to help evacuate the other adult female and duplex neighbors.Fire officials say the fire spread throughout the second floor and attic before firefighters were able to extinguish it.Fire officials say a basement to roof fire wall prevented any fire, smoke or water damage to the neighboring unit in this duplex.The unit where the fire occurred is uninhabitable.Residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross.Racine Fire officials say: "Working smoke alarms normally give residents early warning of fire and ability to self-evacuate.
"Her hair was singed off and part of her face was a little bit burnt:" Racine house fire injures resident
RACINE (WITI) -- A house fire created a hectic scene Sunday morning, July 6th, but firefighters say it could have been tragic.
Good samaritan saves lives in Racine apartment fire
RACINE (WITI) -- Every morning John Tate goes on a walk before work, but on his Tuesday morning stroll on April 1st, he noticed something startling."I saw that the right side of a door was on fire and it was about two to three feet running up the door so I started running up and kicking on the windows and doors and everything trying to see if anyone was in the house," said Tate.A three-unit apartment complex only a half block from Tate's home was on fire.Luckily, he got the attention of a man who had a family, including an eight-day-old baby inside.A woman in another unit came out, but Tate went back in looking for the man who lived downstairs."I kicked in that door and then I ran in the house and started to scream in there 'is anybody in here, is anybody in here' and no one responded and then the smoke got pretty heavy there too so I had to exit the house," said Tate.Loren Huxhold, who owns the building and lives downstairs, wasn't home at the time of the fire.He was surprised by what he found when he returned."I waited for a fire truck to go by me on the road here and I just followed him in here and I got down close to it and the officer stopped me and I couldn't go any farther," said Huxhold.Racine fire officials determined the fire was caused by the embers of a cigarette blowing into the home from the strong winds.The damage is estimated at $5,000, but all of the priceless lives inside were saved, thanks to a good Samaritan."I kind of got a little emotional and I started tearing up and I went home and I told my wife I said I kinda think I saved someone's life this morning," said Tate.Tate told FOX6 he plans to talk to his wife about opening their home to the family with the eight-day-old baby, if they need a place to stay due to the fire.
Child playing with fireworks sparks fire inside Racine home
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine firefighters were dispatched to a home on Kentucky St.
Racine firefighters humbled by letters from Mitchell students
RACINE (WITI) -- Their school may have been destroyed by fire, but their spirit is strong.
Racine firefighters collect school supplies for Mitchell students
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine firefighters are working to assist Mitchell School students after a fire gutted parts of the school last week.Fire crews arrived on scene early Thursday morning, February 27th.
Space heater to blame for early morning fire in Racine
RACINE (WITI) -- A space heater is to blame for an electrical fire that broke out at a home on Taylor Avenue early Saturday morning, March 1st.
Crews battle frigid temperatures, wind at Racine school fire
RACINE (WITI) -- Racine firefighters had to fight not only flames at Thursday morning’s fire at Mitchell School, but frigid temperatures and wind as well.“I got the call about 2:45 a.m. and breaks my heart to see it so destroyed,” said Lolli Haws, the superintendent of Racine Unified Schools.Haws was in shock when she heard that Mitchell School was on fire, but she said it was even worse to see in person.