GRAND CHUTE, Wis. (WBAY) – Multiple fire crews responded to a duplex fire near Fox Valley Technical College Sunday evening.
The Grand Chute Fire Department (GCFD) reported to the 2900 block of West Big Bend Drive for a report of a garage fire at 4:38 p.m., according to Battalion Chief Robert Schipper. The Appleton and Fox Crossing Fire Departments were dispatched at the same time, following automatic aid agreements.
Crews arrived to find fire spreading from the garage into the attic of the home. The second half of the duplex sustained moderate smoke damage and exterior siding damage. They remained on scene for several hours “extinguishing hot spots and salvaging belongings from the home,” Schipper said in a media release.
One resident of the initial duplex impacted was home and called 911 at the time of the fire.
“High winds at the time of the fire also caused the fire to spread to the garage and attic of the home next door to the initial duplex on fire. These winds made containing the spread and extinguishing the fire difficult,” Schipper continued.
Seven people, including three children and one pet, are displaced.
Residents of the second home impacted are staying in the unaffected portion of their duplex with family.
Occupants of the homes behind the duplex vacated temporarily because of blowing smoke.
“The Grand Chute Fire Department wants to remind everyone that fires move fast in today’s homes. It is very important to have working smoke alarms and an escape plan that is practiced.”
No injuries were reported from occupants or fire personnel.
Estimated damages amount to $200 thousand.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but not considered suspicious.
Many agencies assisted at the scene:
Grand Chute Police Department, Greenville Fire Department, Town of Neenah Fire Department, Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue, Gold Cross Ambulance, Outagamie County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), WE Energies, Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team and Red Cross.
INITIAL REPORT: Multiple fire crews are responding to a house fire near Fox Valley Technical College.
The fire is on West Big Bend Drive, according to the Grand Chute Fire Department battalion chief.
Grand Chute, Neenah, Appleton, Fox Crossing and Greenville Fire Departments are responding.
WBAY will continue to update this developing story.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/2H44VWSSTJE2VEGNVVATGSBAOA.jpg "UPDATE: High Winds Cause Grand Chute Duplex Fire To Spread 2")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/L3ETBD7E5JCZNCWA2UWSFQ2O3Y.jpg "UPDATE: High Winds Cause Grand Chute Duplex Fire To Spread 3")
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