Working Smoke Detectors Saved Lives in Neenah Apartment Building Fire

The fire was contained to the apartment of origin. That apartment and the unit directly below it, were determined to be uninhabitable and those occupants were displaced.

One person was transported to the hospital due to unrelated medical needs.

The cause of the fire was determined to be improper use of an extension cord/heating device.

The apartment did have working smoke detectors, however the structure was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system or a fire alarm system.

Firefighters are reminding residents that:

• Working smoke detectors save lives. Test them monthly and change the batteries at least once a year.
• When using space heaters, plug them directly into an outlet. Do not plug them into extension cords.
• Extension cords should only be used for temporary purposes, and not for any type of appliance.
• Never use three-prong plugs with outlets that only have two slots for the plug. Do not cut off the ground pin to force a fit. This defeats the purpose of a three-prong plug and could lead to an electrical shock. Never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn’t fit.
• Do not run through walls, doorways, ceilings or floors. If cord is covered, heat cannot escape, which may result in a fire hazard.