October 17, 2026 – Hartford, Wi – At approximately 12:59 A.M. on October 17, 2026, Hartford Fire & Rescue responded to the report of an apartment building on fire on Evergreen Drive. Multiple Hartford Police officers arrived on scene to find fire pushing out the front window of an apartment unit on the first floor.
Officers quickly helped residents exit the building and attempted to search the second floor, but were stopped by the thick black smoke. One officer utilized several fire extinguishers, spraying them through the front window in an attempt to slow the fire.
Two officers went to the rear of the building, finding three occupants trapped on the second floor balcony. Those occupants jumped from the smoke filled building and were caught by the officers at the rear of the building.
The first arriving fire incident commander called for additional mutual aid which was requested
through the MABAS system at the Working Still level. The first arriving Hartford fire engine found fire still pushing out of the front window on the first floor, rapidly extending up the exterior of the building and spreading to the unit above it and into the soffit and attic.
The crew quickly deployed a preconnected hoseline, briefly spraying water into the room that was on fire from the outside before entering the building. The growing fire was quickly located in the bedroom of the first floor apartment and extinguished. Hartford’s ladder truck arrived on scene and laddered the roof to check for fire.
Another crew checked for fire in the apartment unit above the fire. Next arriving mutual aid engine crews provided assistance with extra personnel, searching the building, overhauling fire areas to assure no smoldering embers remained.
A total of 10 pets were successfully rescued from the apartment building.
EMS crews provided rehabilitation efforts to the firefighters, as well as staffing an ambulance on
scene, and providing warming areas for those who were displaced.
A total of 12 occupants were displaced from the 8-unit apartment building due to smoke and fire damage. One occupant had minor injuries, but refused transport to the hospital. Two Hartford police officers were evaluated at the hospital and released shortly there after for smoke-related injuries. No fire or EMS personnel were injured during this incident.
Assistance was provided by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office with dispatch services, and Hartford Police Department with law enforcement assistance. Mutual Aid was provided by St. Lawrence Fire Company, Slinger Fire Department, Neosho Fire Department, Richfield Fire Department, and Jackson Fire Department. Lifestar EMS later provided an ambulance at Hartford’s fire station when Richfield’s ambulance was moved up to assist at the scene. Red Cross assisted with those who were displaced with immediate needs and assuring they had shelter. A temporary warming shelter was established in City Hall for those occupants who were in need.
Mutual aid units were released as the work was completed, and Hartford Fire units remained on scene until approximately 4 a.m.
Fire investigators from Hartford Fire and Hartford Police remained on scene until approximately noon.
The cause of the fire is under investigation at the time of this press release, no further information is being released during the investigation.
Tony Burgard