Date: 10-03-2021

 Case: Machine Shed Fire 21-33733    

 Authority: Lieutenant Hope Demler 409

On Sunday, October 3, 2021, at 3:21 PM, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a machine shed on fire at 3018 Elm Rd in the Town of Jackson.

Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies and the Jackson Fire Department responded to the scene. The caller advised that there were no livestock or people inside the structure. A family member was operating an oxy-acetylene torch while performing repairs on a hay baler inside the structure just prior to the fire. The subject left the shed to take a break and shortly after the hay baler was engulfed in flames. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden house but the fire grew rapidly.

Fire personnel arrived on scene and extinguished the fire. The fire was contained to the machine shed. The structure is a 104ft X 54ft pole shed type building used to store farm machinery, oil and tools. The machine shed and all its contents were a total loss. Estimated structure damage is $50,000 and the contents were estimated at $70,000.

The origin of the fire is believed to be in or near the hay baler. The heat from the oxy-acetylene torch appears to have ignited some remnants of hay inside the baler causing the fire. The fire appears to be accidental in nature.

Personnel from the following fire departments responded: Jackson, West Bend, St. Lawrence, Germantown, Slinger, Hartford, Richfield, and Cedarburg.

No fire or police personnel were injured.