UNION GROVE, Wis. (WFRV) – Authorities in southeastern Wisconsin have released bodycam footage from officers called to a fire at an apartment complex Friday morning.
According to a press release, the Racine County Sheriff’s Office was called to the Carriage Hills Apartments in the 800 block of 18th Avenue in the Village of Union Grove because of a possible fire in one of the apartments.
The complainant reported that he smelled smoke, saw smoke coming from the apartment through the door and heard a crackling sound. Despite knocking on the door, there was no response, so the complainant pulled the fire alarm.
When two officers arrived on scene, they noticed smoke coming from a second-story window. They ordered the building evacuated and attempted to contact anyone in the apartment that was reportedly on fire, but there was no response. An officer checked the doorknob and felt that it was hot.
Officers retrieved burglary equipment and a fire extinguisher from the patrol car. One officer used a sledgehammer to break down the door and the other entered the apartment. The officer encountered black smoke and open flames on the floor and around a window.
Officers called to see if anyone was in the apartment, but again there was no answer. The Racine County Sheriff’s Office says the officer had to leave and re-enter the apartment several times because he was inhaling smoke.
The officer sprayed the fire extinguisher on the ground, which caused the flames to recede briefly but quickly flare up again.
When the deputy realized the fire extinguisher was not working, he returned to his patrol car and retrieved a V4 fire extinguisher. The deputy deployed the orange box inside the apartment while the other deputy continued to evacuate the residents.
Eight seconds after the V4 fire extinguisher is activated, an aerosol mist is generated. This mist expands and can fill a space of up to 5,300 cubic feet for about 35 seconds. This breaks the connection between the heat and oxygen molecules and suppresses the flames.
The Fire Suppression Tool V4 can significantly reduce the temperature in a building (up to 1,000 degrees) and prevent retreat without depriving potential victims of oxygen.
When firefighters arrived at the building, officers were notified that the tenant of one of the apartments was missing. Officers relayed this information to the fire department, who found the person sleeping. After evacuation, the person was treated for smoke inhalation. None of the other tenants required medical treatment.
The fire brigade extinguished the flames a short time later.
Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling praised officers for their bravery during the incident.
“I am proud of the deputies who used their training and equipment to quickly bring the spreading fire under control,” said Sheriff Schmaling. “Their heroic actions prevented further injuries or property damage. I thank the Masons for providing the Union Grove Sheriff’s Department with the firefighting equipment that was critical to this incident.”
No further details were provided.
