July 20, 2026 – Hartford, WI ā At approximately 4:05 p.m. on July 19, 2026, Hartford Fire & Rescue responded to the report of fire in a house on E. Monroe Avenue. Dispatch advised units while they were enroute, that one of the vehicles in the garage may be on fire.
A Hartford Police Department officer arrived on scene first and deployed a Fire Suppression Tool (FST) into an open garage window to slow the fire.
The first arriving incident command vehicle found black smoke pushing out of the closed garage door, and confirmed that all occupants were out of the building.
The first arriving engine crew deployed two hose lines, one to the garage and one to the house.
Entry was initially made into the garage through the open garage window, and a rapid fire attack was initiated. The next arriving Hartford truck company set up, laddered the roof, and prepared to provide ventilation.
The following Hartford fire engine companies assisted with water supply from the fire hydrant on the street, and provided additional crews to check the attic, house, and basement. No fire extension into the house was located. Additional assistance was requested through the MABAS system at the Working Still level.
The fire in the garage was extinguished, and the area was overhauled to ensure no other fire remained.
Salvage efforts were taken to protect the belongings of the homeowner from further water damage, and the vehicles were removed from the garage.
The EMS crew assessed one homeowner for possible smoke inhalation, then provided rehabilitation efforts to the firefighters as well as staffing an ambulance on scene.
Smoke was removed from the house using fan-powered ventilation.
No citizens, fire personnel, or EMS personnel were injured during this incident. An active fire investigation is still underway at the time of this release to determine the origin and cause of the fire.
Assistance was provided by the Washington County Sheriffās Office with dispatch services and Hartford Police Department with law enforcement assistance.
Mutual Aid assistance was provided by St. Lawrence Fire Company and Slinger Fire Department. Jackson Fire Department provided an engine and an ambulance at change of quarters to cover Hartfordās service area while at the fire. Hartford Electric Utility and Water Utility, along with WE Energies gas, also assured that there were no utility supply concerns.