September 10, 2025 – Hartford, WI – At approximately 7:50 p.m. on September 9, 2025, Hartford Fire & Rescue responded to the Silver Bell Motel on Grand Avenue for the report of a room on fire. Hartford police arrived, finding smoke but no flames, and began to evacuate the building.
The first arriving fire command vehicle found smoke still coming from the unit and occupants standing outside of the building in the parking lot.
The first arriving engine crew deployed a hose line into the apartment utilizing on-board tank water. The fire was found in an exterior wall, and the unit was checked to ensure that the fire had not spread inside. Overhaul was completed to remove all charred and smoldering materials from the burned area.
EMS crews assessed one patient, who did not require transport to a hospital, and provided rehabilitation efforts to the firefighters.
No fire or EMS personnel were injured during this incident. Due to the efforts of all those on scene, the impacted area was isolated to just one portion of the exterior wall, and minor damage to the interior wall of one unit.
Assistance was provided by Hartford Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Office for an origin and cause fire investigation. The cause is undetermined as of the time of this release, but unable to rule out the careless use of smoking materials, the use of charcoal cooking appliances, and the disposal of hot ash. Hartford Fire & Rescue also responded to an EMS call in Hustisford during this same time frame.
