TOWN OF LAWRENCE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A fire destroyed a building and sent smoke billowing across a busy interstate highway at rush hour Thursday morning.
Authorities say the fire was at Macht Village Programs, 3310 Mid Valley Dr., in the town of Lawrence.
Assistant Chief Luke Pasterski of the Lawrence Fire Department said callers began reporting smoke across Interstate 41 just before 6:30 a.m.
“While we were en route, we got another report from an off duty fireman that there was a lot of smoke,” he said. “We upgraded the alarm level using the MABAS box alarm system.”
He said most agencies from the west side of the county responded.
“When we got here, there were flames and smoke coming from the roof,” Pasterski said.
Pasterski and other firefighters did a circle around the building to see if anyone was inside.
“We couldn’t tell looking from the outside. We attempted to send crews in to verify that no one was in the building, however, the roof started to collapse at that time so we had to pull our crews out.”
Brown County’s dispatch center was able to get in contact with a representative of Macht Village Programs — who told them the building should not be occupied.
“At that time we went to a defensive fire operation, which means it was firefighting from the exterior side of the building for the safety of the firefighters that were here on scene,” Pasterski said.
Macht Village Programs assists children and young adults with severe emotional and behavioral problems.
“There were no injuries at all and no one was believed to be in the building,” Pasterski said.
Pasterski said it took several hours to get the fire under control.
“We don’t have any idea on what may have started it or anything like that,” Pasterski said.
The building is considered a total loss.
Ben Hagel, The School Program Director for Macht Village Programs, shared how he hopes to move forward.
“Our hope and our plan is to find an alternative site, and keep services going as soon as possible.” said Hagel.
Hagel also noted that as terrible as the morning was, it’s incredible how different school districts have been reaching out to help.
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