TOWN OF NEW GLARUS — On Dec. 15 while New Glarus firefighters were still en route to a Marty Road fire that started in an outdoor hot tub, they saw smoke rising in the sky and called for mutual aid.

“Better safe than sorry,” said New Glarus Fire Chief Josh Kammerud. Due to the cold weather and rural location of the fire behind a residence on Marty Road between Wisconsin 39 and Legler Valley Road, he expected needing many water tenders to put out the fire — and even more water if the fire got into the house.

Firefighters were able to stop the fire, which was reported shortly after 3 p.m., before it got into the house.

It still destroyed the water-filled hot tub and a three-season porch at the rear of the home. It was starting to get into the wall between the porch and the house by the time firefighters were able to halt the spread, Kammerud said.

The residents were uninjured but temporarily displaced due to smoke odor throughout the home, he said.

“We were on scene about three and a half hours. That was largely just to ensure the fire had not extended into the structure and to make sure we had everything completely out,” Kammerud said. “We were able to control the fire with minimal impact to the structure, but there were some overhaul operations that required us to pull drywall. ... We had to tear into the walls.”

Kammerud said the fire was likely due to an electrical equipment malfunction in the hot tub, but the hot tub was too destroyed to say for sure. He said the homeowner first spotted the hot tub on fire.

New Glarus firefighters were aided by fire departments from Monticello, Belleville, Blanchardville, Argyle, Monroe, Albany, Brodhead, Juda, Fitchburg, Mt. Horeb and McFarland. New Glarus EMS also assisted.