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Firefighters Battle Blaze At Fort Atkinson Apartment Building
No Injuries Were Reported
UPDATED: 5:57 pm CDT May 22,
2008
FORT ATKINSON, Wis. -- About 50 area firefighters converged on a blaze in a Fort Atkinson apartment building overnight.
VIDEO: Watch Footage Of Fire's Aftermath | 
SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Fort Atkinson Apartment Building FireA passer-by who spotted flames is credited with alerting residents to the danger. Fire officials said the man's identity is a mystery. He called 911 about midnight and entered the burning building and banged on doors to alert them to the blaze.The Fort Atkinson Fire Department said that fire started just after midnight at the Commonwealth Village Apartments, which is located in the 1500 block of Commonwealth Drive.About one-third of the building's roof collapsed onto the second floor.Fire Capt. Mark Schoenleber said that the man "did a very nice job" of alerting residents.Crews were expected to continue extinguishing hot spots on Thursday morning.The building houses 32 units and all its residents are now displaced. Fire officials said the building is a total loss.Authorities said that no injuries were reported and that no cause for the blaze has been determined at this time.The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents with temporary housing.The smoke from the fire blew into an assisted care living home, Sienna Crest, about 50 feet away. Seventeen residents were evacuated and housed at a nearby Holiday Inn Express. They were allowed back into their homes later.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
VIDEO: Watch Footage Of Fire's Aftermath | SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Fort Atkinson Apartment Building FireA passer-by who spotted flames is credited with alerting residents to the danger. Fire officials said the man's identity is a mystery. He called 911 about midnight and entered the burning building and banged on doors to alert them to the blaze.The Fort Atkinson Fire Department said that fire started just after midnight at the Commonwealth Village Apartments, which is located in the 1500 block of Commonwealth Drive.About one-third of the building's roof collapsed onto the second floor.Fire Capt. Mark Schoenleber said that the man "did a very nice job" of alerting residents.Crews were expected to continue extinguishing hot spots on Thursday morning.The building houses 32 units and all its residents are now displaced. Fire officials said the building is a total loss.Authorities said that no injuries were reported and that no cause for the blaze has been determined at this time.The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents with temporary housing.The smoke from the fire blew into an assisted care living home, Sienna Crest, about 50 feet away. Seventeen residents were evacuated and housed at a nearby Holiday Inn Express. They were allowed back into their homes later.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
