BRUSSELS, Wis. (WFRV) – Fire officials are reminding the public on how to properly clean out wood-burning stoves following a house fire early Monday morning in the Town of Brussels.
According to a release from the B.U.G. Fire Department, crews responded at 1:44 a.m. to a home on the 1700 block of Cedar Lane in the Town of Brussels for a reported fire.
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The initial call stated that active smoke and flames could be seen on the back porch of the home, and while responding, officials learned that the fire was starting to spread to the second story of the home.
Arriving fires reported a downed power line across Cedar Lane and across the home’s yard, making it difficult to battle the fire, which was now confirmed to be from the ground level of the home to the peak of the roof.
Officials say crews began an exterior attack while other firefighters entered the home through the front door, where they then went up to the second floor to finish putting out the fire. Damage from the fire was said to be contained to the outside of the home, along with a second-story bedroom and the attic space above that room. There was minimal smoke and water damage.
No firefighters or residents of the home were hurt, and the owner of the home was also able to get several cats out of the house before fire crews arrived.
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Officials say the fire appears to have started on the back porch of the home, with the homeowner indicating that he had cleaned out a pellet stove the day before and had discarded the ashes into a plastic container that was left outside.
While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, the public is being reminded that when cleaning out a wood-burning stove, the ashes should always be placed in a metal container and doused with water to ensure the ashes are cool and cannot reignite.
No other information is available at this time.
