Morning blaze destroys Orfordville home
ORFORDVILLE — An Orfordville family is homeless today after fire ripped through their three-vehicle attached garage and two-story house at 1629 S. Coon Island Road.
Firefighters from seven departments initially were called to the scene in Plymouth Township about two miles north of Orfordville. Four more fire departments were called later to assist.
"The garage was completely engulfed with flames and starting to spread. By the time we got water up to it, the fire had broke through the roof of the house,'' said Chad Cleasby, assistant chief at the Orfordville Fire Department.
Firefighters determined the fire started in the mudroom between the garage and house, but the cause remains undetermined.
"It was accidental, not suspicious,'' said Dan Jacobs, Footville fire chief.
In addition to the Orfordville and Footville Fire Departments, firefighters from Janesville, Evansville, Beloit, Brooklyn, Brodhead, town Turtle, town of Beloit, Edgerton and Harlem-Roscoe, Ill., rotated to keep warm while battling the blaze.
"We needed the manpower due to the severity of the cold,'' Cleasby said.
"It was a bear," Jacobs said.
Tankers had difficulty getting up the snow-packed driveway, hydrant valves froze and the ground was very slippery, Jacobs said.
The Rock County Highway Department was called to salt and sand the area of the fire scene. The American Red Cross responded, too.
One Footville firefighter suffered a burn to the back of his neck after a hot ember fell between his collar and hood, but no medical attention was needed, Jacobs said.
Homeowner Tracy Breneman, his spouse, two daughters and pets, were safely evacuated from the home and took refuge with a neighbor, Cleasby said.
Two rooms and some of the home's contents might be salvageable, but Cleasby said he doubts if the family will be able to rebuild. He declined to give a damage estimate.
The garage, house and its contents were insured for $375,000, fire officials were told.
Destroyed in the garage were a 2008 Subaru Outback, 2002 Nissan Altima, 2002 Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a 2007 Honda motorcycle.
Jan 19, 2009 at 2:09 p.m.
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My father grew up in that house before Lyle bought it. I played at the farm for years! I knew Lyle, and the current owners. I'm very glad eveyone made it out safe and is ok. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jan 14, 2009 at 5:52 p.m.
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I think that we all did a great job working together and keeping everyone safe! It was a cold night and we did everything we could do to keep everyone warm! Thanks to everyone who assisted!!
Jan 14, 2009 at 1:18 p.m.
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Thank you to the fire dept, police, e.m.s. and red cross. What a awful thing to have happen our prays are with this family. What a awful day for all.
Jan 14, 2009 at 12:32 p.m.
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My prayers are with this family.
Jan 14, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.
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I had a roof fire last February and would like to THANK the Orfordville fire department for their fast response and being such great people. : ) THANK YOU ALL !
Jan 13, 2009 at 8:02 p.m.
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I pray for the girls, semester exams are this week, so this a hard time made worse for them. Don't give up!
Jan 13, 2009 at 7:32 p.m.
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How sad. Our family knows Tracy as well as the previous owner, who built the home, the late Lyle Mielke. The memories and hard work of two families were lost in this fire, but thank god the residing family was safely evacuated! This was a beautiful home, and is sad to see gone, especially since it was built by the hands of a dear man....but the lives that have been spared are much more important than materialistic items. I have a best friend that had her home burn down when she was a young girl, and they lost everything, and she said it was tough, but they were so thankful they all got out safely. The one thing that still bothers her after 30 some years is losing pictures. I think that is something that would be hard to lose. Maybe this should be a lesson to us all that our pictures should all be kept in a fire safe, and hopefully theirs were. I am also thankful their pets got out too. It is amazing how these men and women of the emergency response teams include the pets as important "cargo". That warms my heart. Good luck to you Tracy, and your family.
Jan 13, 2009 at 4:42 p.m.
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I know Tracy...All I can say is Thank god he got the Family out. Our prayers are with you.
Jan 13, 2009 at 1:44 p.m.
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Good job fighting this one, everybody! I shiver just reading the story and imagine the cold winds overnight made conditions extremely difficult. I'm glad everyone got out safely and also hope this family can rebuild.
Jan 13, 2009 at 1:25 p.m.
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I witnessed the deputies and firefighters personally. I commend them on the efforts given in such cold weather. I am glad to hear the family is okay! I hope you can rebuild. Thanks for the services of the many departments who helped to try and control the blaze.
Jan 13, 2009 at 10:34 a.m.
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I can't even imagine losing your home, and most of your posessions to a fire. My prayers are with the family.
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