On August 20, 2024, at 12:51 hours, the Oregon Area Fire/EMS District was notified of a structure fire in the 100 Block of Thomson Lane in the Village of Oregon. The first fire engine arrived on the scene four minutes after notification and found a two-story house with heavy fire conditions present. Crews began exterior fire suppression activities and then proceeded into the structure. Heavy fire involvement in the roof forced fire suppression activities to be done from the exterior. The fire was extinguished after approximately 30 minutes of extensive fire suppression activities.
Understanding the needs of our community and trying to minimize these traumatic events for those involved, all crews that responded to the incident remained on the scene for an extended period to help the homeowners remove any salvageable items. While one pet did perish in this event, crews were able to locate and rescue two other pets and reunited them with the family. Initial investigation of the incident indicates the cause to be electrical in nature. The house sustained significant damage as a result of the fire, and the family of four has been displaced.
We would like to thank the fire departments from Brooklyn, Evansville, Fitchburg, Madison, Maple Bluff, McFarland, Middleton, Stoughton, and Verona, and EMS agencies from
FitchRona, McFarland, and Stoughton who assisted as part of our automatic-aid and mutual-aid response plans. We also would like to thank the Village of Oregon Police Department, the Dane County Communications Center, and Alliant Energy for their assistance during this incident.
The OAFED would like to remind everyone of the importance of having working smoke detectors throughout your homes, and to change the batteries twice a year. Additionally,
electrical extension cords can be a great tool when used properly. However, they can pose a fire risk when used as a permanent power source, or left plugged in while unattended. Please unplug your extension cords when they are not in use or unattended. We also strongly encourage all of our district residents to ensure that they have homeowners or renters insurance, and that those policies are current.
Fire Chief Glenn Linzmeier
chief@oregonareafireems.org
608-835-5587
To download the official press release, click here.