MONROE — Monroe Rural Fire officials said their crews were on the scene of a house fire for 9 hours recently and used approximately 15,000 gallons of water to put out the blaze. 

According to Monroe Rural Fire District Chief Jeff Kundert, the fire was first called in at 10:53 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at W6237 Iliff Road, by a neighbor.

“The caller was able ring the doorbell and pound on front door to wake up 2 occupants who were sleeping in a bedroom near where the fire started,” said Kundert in an email.

As a result, no one was injured in the fire, including emergency responders who came from as far away as Illinois to assist local crews. It is still unknown whether the extensively damaged property was a total loss.  

According county land records, it is owned by the David and Glenda Buholzer Trust.

The large response to the fire included Monroe Rural Fire District, with two engines, a brush/command unit, a pair of tenders; and utility truck with a pump trailer. About 24 of their personnel were on scene at one point, said Kundert.

Monticello responded with an engine, while Browntown sent its tender unit, he added.

“Brush 4 arrived on scene and assumed command reporting heavy fire in rear of structure and heavy fire extending into attic,” said Kundert. “Engine 1 arrived on scene (and) began defensive operations (flowing lines from outside to extinguish fire) …”

With the “large amount of fire and the rapid fire spread,” mutual aid was requested from Juda (engine), Orangeville (engine), Argyle (tender) and Albany (tender).”

Kundert thanked all of departments for their help.

“Defensive operations continued until it was deemed safe to enter structure to put out fire that firefighters were not able to reach from the outside and salvage contents to reduce the amount of damage,” he said.

Meanwhile, starting on April 1, Kundert said the Monroe Rural Fire District is implementing an “Automatic Aid,” scheme, in which Green County will dispatch an engine and pair of tenders (for structural fires only) along with Monroe Rural Fire District units. And the departments of Monticello, Browntown and Juda will each send a truck to fill those needs, under the aid agreement.

The automatic response under the plan should help get resources to the scene faster, according to officials.

“This is in order to get more personnel and water to the scene of a reported structure fire for life safety and property conservation,” said Kundert.