A house fire on Washington Island required help from several fire departments on the mainland on Tuesday morning. The Washington Island Fire Department responded to a residential structure fire at 1457 Deerlane Road at about 8:30 a.m. Fire Chief Peter Nehlsen says an alarm system alerted the occupants, who escaped the fire uninjured. He says the blaze started as a chimney fire right in the middle of the home, where hot embers fell into the crawl space. Chief Nehlsen explains how the mutual aid, MABAS, calls to other departments helped to give his crews a break during the over three-hour ordeal.  Fire departments from Baileys Harbor, Sister Bay/Liberty Grove, Gibraltar, and Ephraim assisted with the fire call and returned to their respective stations at about 2 p.m. 

The estimated home damage is $50,000, according to Nehlson. He says the fire is a good reminder to clean your chimney regularly. 

(photo courtesy of Washingon Island Police Department)