23 departments help fight fire in the cold

Family, including at least 9 kids, escape safely

EDGERTON, Wis. — Cold conditions prompted the Edgerton Fire Department to call 23 fire departments to fight a house fire Friday morning.

Lt. Brennon Rousch said firefighters were called to the home in the 200 block of Albion Street at about 2 a.m. He said firefighters reported heavy smoke coming from the attic area when they arrived.

The family, including at least nine children, escaped safely.

Crews brought the fire under control by 6 a.m. and used 14,000 gallons of water to fight the fire. Firefighters said the entire home was damaged but most of the damage to the more than 100-year-old house was on the third floor. Damage estimates are not yet available.

An initial investigation suggests the cause of the fire was a faulty furnace.