WAUPACA COUNTY (NBC 26) — After a 1,000-gallon propane tank exploded in Waupaca County, five buildings were deemed uninhabitable Wednesday afternoon.
Waupaca Area Fire District Chief Jerry Deuman said crews got the call for a structure fire shortly after 1:30 Wednesday afternoon.
The Waupaca Area Fire District posted on its Facebook page
stating there was an active incident around 3:00 p.m. and asked people to avoid Nelsen Road.
Deuman said a propane tank was close to the building on fire, and the tank eventually exploded.
Four buildings were destroyed.
Deuman said 2.5 acres of land burned in the fire.
"The house has fire and smoke damage, and is unlivable at this time," Deuman said. "We can only be grateful that nobody got injured or got hurt when the LP Tank blew up. So, that is very dangerous."
Deuman said two people lived at the house and are OK. He said two pets were also in the house, but only one survived.
Deuman said the Red Cross and a local group are helping out those displaced.
Deuman said eight fire departments and the DNR assisted at the scene.
He said two firefighters were treated for heat exhaustion, but they're also OK.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
"We have a lot of clean-up to do, and a little bit of mop-up what we call it, and just hopefully we can get some more answers," Deuman said.
The family affected by the fire did not want to speak.
Deuman said the DNR put out two quarter-acre fires along the wood line about a quarter mile from the scene.
