Last month, a fire ripped through a large outbuilding on Chuck and Corrine Hiller’s Trenton property, turning decades of one man’s vintage-car work into charred metal and ash. The blaze swallowed a lineup of classic Fords the 80-year-old had spent years restoring, and the couple is now left sifting through insurance paperwork and old photos of what used to be a dream garage.
Massive mutual-aid response and preliminary estimate
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reports that deputies got a 9:39 p.m. call about a possible structure fire on the 6400 block of Congress Drive. Newburg firefighters responded and quickly called in help from more than a dozen neighboring departments. According to a press release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, early damage estimates sit around $500,000, and investigators say the fire’s origin appears to be linked to a heat source.
Collector remembers a lifetime of cars
“Everything is gone,” Hiller told reporters, recalling cars he had been restoring since the early 1970s. In an interview with TMJ4, the 80-year-old said he and his wife first learned something was wrong when a neighbor alerted them. Investigators were still working to pinpoint a cause, though Hiller said he suspects a stove in the lower level of the two-story building may have played a role.
Classic Thunderbirds and Galaxies lost
Local coverage reports that the blaze wiped out several early-1960s Fords, including Thunderbirds and Galaxies, and that 11 vintage cars in total were destroyed. FOX6 Milwaukee quoted Hiller saying, “Every one of these cars, I could tell you stories,” and noted that he is still holding onto the hope of finding another Thunderbird to replace his favorite.
Firefighting in bitter cold
Mutual-aid crews battled the fire deep into the night in subzero temperatures, crowding the rural property with engines and tankers. Hiller said the brutal cold made it impossible to move vehicles or equipment out of harm’s way. The weather and the size of the outbuilding stretched the response, and firefighters stayed on scene for hours while insurers and local officials began tallying damage, according to TMJ4.
Investigation and what comes next
The Newburg Fire Department is leading the origin investigation with help from county deputies, and officials say the cause remains under review. Per the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, crews from multiple area fire departments, along with public-works and utility teams, assisted on scene while investigators and insurers worked to evaluate the losses. Authorities stressed that the roughly $500,000 damage estimate is preliminary, and the scene remains an active investigation as fire investigators and insurance adjusters finish their work.
Hiller says the photos of his collection have suddenly become some of his most precious keepsakes as he and his wife weigh whether to rebuild. Friends and fellow collectors have already reached out with offers of help, Washington County Insider reported. For now, investigators continue their work and the Hillers are coordinating with insurers as they begin the long process of cleanup and claims.
