November 29, 2025 – Kewaskum – At 5:38 p.m. the Kewaskum Fire Department was dispatched by Washington County Sheriff Department to Sunburst Ski Area 8355 Prospect Drive for a rope chair evacuation due to power outage.
Kewaskum Units arrived on scene at 5:46 p.m. and manpower was directed to Chair 1 the southernmost chair lift at the Ski Area to begin evacuating 14 individuals that were on the chair lift.
Kewaskum Fire Department and Sunburst Personnel worked together to safely evacuate all individuals from the lift in approximately 40 minutes. No injuries were reported.
Kewaskum Fire Department and Sunburst Ski Area train annually for this type of event to ensure a safe and timely evacuation to the patrons of the Sunburst Ski Area.
Information Release By
James Warnkey
Asst Chief
Kewaskum Fire and Rescue
November 29, 2025 – Kewaskum, WI – Over 200 people are without power Saturday evening in the Kewaskum and West Bend area. According to We Energies 192 people lost power in Kewaskum and 37 are without power in West Bend. In Grafton, in neighboring Ozaukee County 80 people are without electricity.
Calls have been placed to We Energies for more information.
Aside from the power outage, emergency crews were at the ski hill in Kewaskum this evening around 5 p.m. According to assistant fire chief James Warnkey, the Kewaskum Fire Department assisted employees at Sunburst with 14 individuals stuck on the chair lift because of a power outage. All were successfully rescued. No injuries were reported. All units are back at the station house.
Plows and salters are out across Washington County, WI, as it has been snowing consistently since 6 a.m. Roads are snow covered and slippery.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning until 6 a.m. Sunday.
..WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST SUNDAY…
* WHAT…Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations between 6 and 10
inches.
* WHERE…Portions of east central and southeast Wisconsin.
* WHEN…Until 6 AM CST Sunday.
* IMPACTS…Travel could be very difficult, especially through the evening hours.
