Edgar firemen fight double house fires

The Edgar Fire Department fought back to back house fires on Sunday and Monday.

The first fire, according to Edgar Fire Chief Dave Wagener, was at the Justin Strasser home, 236 E. Chesek, where a fire of undetermined origin destroyed a garage and lean-to attached to the home.

Edgar firemen, assisted by the Marathon Fire Department, saved the home proper after being dispatched at 1:45 p.m.

“The garage is a total loss but the fire didn’t get into the house at all,” Wagener said. “That was a big thing, that was key.” The chief said firefighters sought to salvage items from the fire. Various personal items suffered smoke and water damage, he said. Firemen left the scene at 3 p.m.

A second fire erupted the following morning at around 9:30 a.m. at the Raymond Chojnowski home at 703 West Street.

This fire, also of unknown origin, started in the home garage and spread to the rest of the dwelling, said Wagener.

Firemen from Marathon, Stratford, Edgar and Athens fire departments sprayed 12,000 gallons of water on the fire but were unable to save the structure.

“The house is a total loss,” said the chief.

Wagener said the firemen used a “surround and drown” strategy to knock down the blaze. Water to fight the fire was found in a hydrant 700 feet from the Chojnowski home. It took seven lengths of large diameter hose to connect the hydrant.

The chief said the family at the home was able to retrieve some personal items, but its possessions were largely destroyed in the blaze.

He said he contacted the Marathon County Red Cross to assist the family.

Twenty-six firemen for the four departments worked on the fire. He said he appreciated getting support from the other departments.

“Actually, we worked well together,” he said. “Mutual aid is real important these days.”

The Edgar firemen returned to the station at 12:45 p.m.