SAFD responds to 2 fires within minutes overnight

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The Sparta Area Fire District (SAFD) responded to 2 house fires overnight.
Chief Mike Arnold said the first call came in at 12:14a.m at 14344 State Highway 71 in the town of Wells.
Caller stated that their garage is on fire and the garage is attached to the house. When SAFD Chief Mike Arnold arrived, the rear of the garage was on fire and the occupants were out of the home.
Crews quickly did an exterior and interior attack on the garage and the home had moderate smoke damage. 
The garage sustained heavy fire damage while the home had minor fire damage.
The homeowners are staying with family. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.
Crews were on the scene for 3 hours.
 
Station 3 personnel responding to this call in Engine 3 struck a deer on County Highway B and Echo Road and minor damage was reported to the fire truck.
 
The second fire call came in at 12:38a.m at 6785 Cardinal Road in the town of Little Falls.
A neighbor reported they heard several explosions and the house was on fire. Sparta units remained at the Highway 71 fire and Station 3 (Cataract Units) were diverted to the Cardinal Road Fire. Chief Arnold requested mutual aid for tenders from Black River Falls,Melrose and Farmington Fire Departments.
The house and garage were fully engulfed when crews arrived. The homeowners were not home at the time.
Several vehicles were also on fire as well as various pieces of equipment in the garage.
Crews were on the scene for 4 hours.The family also lost 2 dogs and 2 cats in the fire. Some dogs that were outside in a kennel area were rescued.
The homeowners are staying with family. A link to a fundraiser for the family is here: https://gofund.me/cd05ee49
The cause of this fire is also under investigation.
The Fire Department was assisted by the Monroe County Sheriff's Department,Sparta Ambulance Service,Cataract 1st Responders,Xcel Energy,Black River Falls,Melrose,Farmington Fire Department's and Monroe County 911 Center.
 
Chief Arnold said this is not the first time that calls have came in back to back and that is why it is important to have mutual aid with other departments. Neighbors helping neighbors.
 

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