HOWARD, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A dozen families in Howard are facing a major setback after a fire at their apartment complex Tuesday evening destroyed their homes and belongings.
The massive blaze started around 6 p.m. and fire crews needed about an hour to extinguish the flames. Officials estimate there was $750,000 worth of damage.
Residents in 12 units were displaced, making Wednesday a difficult day for many families as they try to figure out what’s next.
“I was gone for like 10 minutes, and I came back and saw smoke and the building had already been basically engulfed at that point,” says Santana Trepanier, who lives a few buildings over in the Northern Pines Apartments complex on Memorial Drive.
“It is scary. I mean, it kinda puts things into perspective about emergency preparedness and what we take for granted,” adds Randy Kaster, who also lives in the complex.
Santana Trepanier lives a few buildings over. She says she was on her way home when she saw the smoke.
“I was terrified for everybody and for myself. I had my dog at home. It looked like it came from my building and thankfully it didn’t, but just horrifying. I saw my neighbors standing out, that I know live in this building, and unfortunately they lost everything… It’s completely devastating,” Trepanier says.
Dennis Staeven, fire chief for the Village of Howard, says his team responded to a fire at Northern Pines Apartments about 10 years ago, so as soon as the call came in, the on-duty battalion chief knew to call for extra help.
“Just the amount of people that could be trapped inside, the length of the three buildings that are tied into each other and the volume of fire he was encountering and the plume of smoke, that’s what prompted the upgraded response,” Staeven says.
Staeven says the complex had a built-in firewall — which helped keep the fire from spreading to the next building.
“This is the biggest [fire] we’ve had so far this year in Howard,” Staeven says.
For many, this is a reminder that it could happen to anyone at any time.
“It’s just knowing that tenants basically lost everything. I think we should have a go bag and essentials in our car, just in case something like this happens,” Kaster says.
Despite the destruction, everyone was able to walk away without injury.
“Obviously, life safety is always paramount in these types of things, and with the amount of people that could’ve been in there, we were lucky that everyone was able to self-rescue. No one was trapped and no ladder rescues had to be done,” Staeven says.
“I’m just glad that everybody is safe, you know. Things can be replaced. I know it’s devastating, but everybody’s okay. That’s what matters in the end,” Trepanier adds.
FOX 11 spoke with the American Red Cross Wednesday afternoon. They were here to support those impacted by the fire with financial assistance and health services. FOX 11 also learned that the complex’s landlord stepped in to put everyone who lost their homes in a hotel Tuesday night, and the landlord is getting them set up in new units Wednesday.
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