UPDATE #2: The two people who were removed from a town of Lawrence house fire Wednesday morning have died, according to fire officials.
The Lawrence Fire Department said in a news release Thursday one of the victims was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The other victim was taken to a specialty hospital, but later died.
The names and ages of the victims have not been released.
Investigators are still working to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
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UPDATE #1: The Lawrence Fire Department has confirmed that two victims were rescued from the burning house, but their conditions are unknown at this time.
Multiple departments responded to a fire at a home along Mid Valley Drive, where two people have been taken to the hospital.
In its latest update, the department stated, “Smoke and flames were coming from the residence with the occupants still inside.”
De Pere Battalion Chief Tom Nelson told NBC 26 that his team was called in to assist.
“Lawrence Fire was actually dispatched for a report of a ‘brush fire.’ When they got here, it turned out to be a ‘structure fire,’ so they upgraded the response to the full structure fire response,” Nelson explained.
Firefighters were able to get two people out. and extinguish the flames with the help of 15 other agencies.
“We did rescue and transport two individuals out of the home. Cannot release their name or condition pending notification of family and next of kin,” Nelson noted.
He added that putting out the fire took about an hour due to difficult conditions.
“The main challenge was the wind. You know, wind blowing at 40 MPH 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,” Nelson pointed out.
The Lawrence Fire Department says they have no further information at this time but are working with other departments to determine what may have happened.
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ORIGINAL REPORTING: 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.
