UPDATE: The Lawrence Fire Department has confirmed that two victims were rescued from the burning house, but their conditions are unknown at this time.
In a statement, Lawrence Fire Chief Luke F. Pasterski reported that at 4:56 am, the Lawrence Fire Department responded to calls of a vegetation fire in the 2200 block of Mid Valley Drive. However, upon arriving, crews realized it was a structure fire.
Fire Chief Pasterski says smoke and flames were coming from inside the residence, and that two people were still inside. The two people were quickly removed and immediately transported to a local hospital hospital by ambulance crews.
Pasterski added that the Brown County Fire Investigation Task Force and the State Fire Marshals Office are currently investigating the cause and origin of the fire.
This is an ongoing story. NBC 26 will update on the air and online as we are able.
**Below is previous information pertaining to this story**
Two people were rescued from a house fire early Wednesday morning near the Town of Lawrence and De Pere.
Lawrence firefighters were first called to the area of Mid Valley Drive off Interstate 41 for a brush fire before 5 AM, but they quickly realized a home was on fire.
Resources from several neighboring departments were called in to help douse the flames, and it took firefighters about an hour to get the fire under control.
De Pere Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Tom Nelson said the windy conditions and lack of fire hydrants in the area added an extra layer of difficulty for firefighters.
"It really spreads the fire and intensifies the fire. So, that was the main challenge. Also, being no hydrants, we had to shuttle our water in with tenders and everything like that. So, those were the two main challenges," Nelson said.
We are working to learn the victims' conditions at this hour.
Chief Nelson says most of the damage was caused to the back of the home, and he believes the fire caused more than $175,000 in damage.
Please stay with NBC 26 on air and online as this story develops.
