An auto shop in Fond du Lac has been declared a total loss following an overnight fire that occurred yesterday. The Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue were dispatched at 11:46 p.m. to the intersection of Military Road and Cotton Street after receiving reports of smoke, as detailed by FOX6 news. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered smoke pouring out from the garage doors of the auto shop, and cutting an access hole was necessary to attempt to quell the flames.
As the situation unfolded, the shop, which was attached to other businesses at 322 N. Military Road, was found to be ablaze with heavy fire and smoke inside once firefighters managed to gain entry. Despite the efforts that included mutual aid from surrounding areas, the damage to the auto shop, the contents inside of it, was insurmountable. FOX 11 Online reports Alliant Energy was called to secure electric and gas utilities at the scene.
The adjacent buildings were saved from the flames but not without sustaining smoke and water damage. Four vehicles positioned right outside the auto repair shop also suffered damage. The firefight was said to have lasted around 90 minutes before the blaze was under control, during which, there were "multiple types of explosions inside there, which was probably tires, other things they had in there, a lot of stuff stored in there," Battalion Chief Jeremy Stephany told WBAY.
One individual required treatment for smoke inhalation though they were reported to be fine afterward. In the aftermath, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was contacted due to environmental concerns as Stephany noted, "The water flowing out of the shop had a lot of oil in it. We did contact the DNR to make them aware too, so they’re looking into it as well, and it may have flowed into the storm sewers," according to the WBAY report. Investigators are currently working to determine both the cause and the origin of the fierce overnight fire.
