DEPERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK)- Emergency crews responded to an apartment fire, just after midnight Sunday.
“We got a call for a working structure fire, which is a way of saying smoke and fire,” explained, De Pere Asst. Fire Chief Rich Annen.
Annen says police officers were the first to arrive on scene, “Prior to our arrival, they were able to gain access to the apartment, remove the occupant of that apartment.”
At the time, Annen says the closest fire station to the apartment was already out on a call.
Which he says caused a short delay in their response.
Meanwhile, he says the officers worked to get people out of building, “The entire complex was full of smoke, and they made their way through the smoke.”
Six officers were treated for breathing in the smoke. Three residents were also taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Annen says the fire was under control within 12 minutes, but the call was a team effort with De Pere Police, “They did a great job; We don’t really want them in those positions but when it comes to life safety, they know how to act.”
The cause of that fire is under investigation.
Firefighters say the damaged is estimated to be around $25,000.
