Firefighters respond to separate fires in Newbold

The Newbold Fire Department responded to two separate fires during the week of Dec. 11.

On Dec. 14, firefighters were called to a home on South Ranch Road, near Tom Doyle Lake, that was fully engulfed in flames.

Pine Lake and Lake Tomahawk fire departments, and the Oneida County sheriff’s office, assisted the Newbold squad.

Newbold Fire Chief Mark Fetzer said it was initially reported as not only a structure fire, but an explosion. 

He said firefighters from Newbold were able to respond rather quickly due to the close proximity of the fire station. 

Fetzer said he estimates the fire was extinguished in 15 minutes, but there were still “hot spots and cleaning up for another hour or two.”

The cause of the fire was not identified, as of press time, but it “would appear” to be gas-related. 

Fetzer said the state fire marshal's office will be investigating. 

When the fire was initially reported, there was a concern that a person might be inside the home.

However, Fetzer said, that turned out not to be the case. 

He said the husband who owns the property with his wife thought his wife could’ve been inside. Fortunately, she wasn’t and no one was injured.

Fetzer said the small home that burned down was on the same lot as a bigger home the husband and wife occupy.

While speaking to The Lakeland Times about that fire, Fetzer said another structure fire occurred around 10 p.m. Dec. 16 near Wildwood Drive. 

The Crescent Fire Department assisted Newbold Fire Department on that call which involved a garage that was fully engulfed by the time firefighters arrived.

Fetzer said it was reported by neighbors of the property and “it probably had time to grow before anybody saw it.”

“It was detached from the house so the house was not damaged,” Fetzer said. “It was like 20 feet from the house. We’re not sure what started it, but it seemed to be just a garage fire (and) nothing too complicated.”

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].