Waunakee Fire Department

07/29/2026

07/19/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Springfield, WI – July 19th, 2026, The Waunakee Area Fire District along with several mutual aid departments responded to a structure fire in the 6400 Block of State Highway 19 in the Town of Springfield. Due to the rural location and the absence of a municipal water system, the incident escalated to a third alarm for tenders to establish and maintain a continuous water shuttle operation.

Firefighters arrived to find a working fire involving a multi-tenant storage facility and immediately initiated suppression operations while establishing a water supply. As the incident progressed, additional mutual aid departments were requested to provide tenders, engines, and personnel. The coordinated tender shuttle operation ensured a continuous water supply and allowed crews to bring the fire under control despite the challenges associated with the rural location.

Firefighters remained on scene for several hours conducting fire suppression, overhaul, extinguishing remaining hot spots, and investigating the cause. The structure sustained significant fire damage.

At this time, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, and no determination regarding the origin has been made. Because the incident involved a multi-tenant storage facility, a damage estimate is not available at this time. Investigators are continuing to assess the scene and work with property representatives to determine the extent of the loss.

Incident Summary
Incident- Structure Fire
Location- 6400 Block of State Highway 19
Time Dispatched- 1:10 a.m.
Gallons of Water Used- 112,000 Gallons of Water
Injures- None
Cause- Under Investigation
Damage Estimate- Undetermined at this time
Incident Cleared- 1:10 p.m.

Acknowledgements
The Waunakee Fire District extends its sincere gratitude to the following partners for their assistance:

Dane County Sheriff's Office, Waunakee Police Department, Waunakee EMS, Madison Gas and Electric, Waunakee Utilities, Arlington Fire Department, Cross Plains Fire Department, Cross Plains EMS, Deforest Windsor Fire Department, Dane Fire Department, Fitchburg Fire Department, Lodi Fire Department, McFarland Fire Department, Middleton Fire Department, Middleton EMS, Sauk Prairie Fire Department, Sun Prairie Fire Department, Truax Fire Department, City of Madison Fire Department, Salvation Army, and Dane County Communication Center.

Respectfully submitted,
Chief Josh McWilliams
Waunakee Fire District

07/13/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Waunakee, WI – July 12th, 2026, The Waunakee Fire Department safely evacuated 18 homes Sunday evening after responding to a reported natural gas leak in the 600 block of Sixth Street. No injuries were reported, and residents were able to return to their homes after firefighters and Madison Gas and Electric (MG&E) confirmed the area was safe.

The Waunakee Fire Department was dispatched at 9:18 p.m. Upon arrival, command staff confirmed an active natural gas leak and requested an immediate response from MG&E. Firefighters, working alongside the Waunakee Police Department, established a safety perimeter and began evacuating residents from the 600 block of Sixth Street and portions of Holiday Drive between Fifth and Seventh streets. The evacuation was completed by 9:40 p.m. Fire crews then conducted primary gas monitoring of the affected homes while awaiting the arrival of MG&E. Utility personnel arrived on scene at 9:41 p.m., were briefed by incident command, and confirmed the established isolation zone.

MG&E secured the gas supply at 10:44 p.m. Following the shutdown, Waunakee firefighters completed secondary gas monitoring of homes and nearby storm sewers to ensure there was no migrating natural gas remaining in the area. After consulting with MG&E and confirming the area was safe, residents were permitted to return to their homes. Reentry was completed by 11:00 p.m.

The scene was turned over to MG&E for repairs to the damaged gas line, and all Waunakee Fire Department units cleared the incident at 11:10 p.m.

Incident- Natural Gas Leak
Location- 600 block of Sixth Street, Waunakee
Time Dispatched- 9:18 p.m.
Homes Evacuated- 18
Injuries- None
Incident Cleared- 11:10 p.m.

The Waunakee Fire Department extends its sincere gratitude to the following partners for their assistance:
Waunakee Police Department
Waunakee Area EMS
Madison Gas and Electric (MG&E)

The department also thanks the affected residents for their cooperation and patience during the evacuation. Their prompt response to emergency personnel's instructions helped ensure the incident was resolved safely and without injury.

Respectfully submitted,
Chief Josh McWilliams
Waunakee Fire District

06/28/2026

Thank you to the Carr family for inviting us.

06/26/2026

Join our team and help the community! Job description and application are found on our website. www.waunakeefire.net

06/13/2026

Join our team! Applications are available on our website.

06/03/2026

Waunakee Firefighters recently participated in the Tunnel to Towers 5K. This event is a fundraiser for the organization, recognizing and remembering the first responders’ lives that were lost on 9/11.

Several departments paid tribute by completing the 5K wearing full turnout gear and air packs. Waunakee was recognized with a medal, for being the first department to finish the race in full firefighter gear.

Thank you to the Tunnel to Towers organization and all involved departments for this opportunity, and for the ongoing support of first responders - past and present.

05/13/2026

Attached is the press release for the hazardous material incident that occurred on Monday, May 11th. No further information is available at this time.

05/12/2026

The Waunakee Fire District would like to thank Mikey Meier for his 24 years of dedicated service and congratulate him on his retirement!

Since joining the department on March 11, 2002, Mikey has shown a passionate commitment to helping our community. Over the course of his career, he served as a Lieutenant for five years and as Treasurer for seven years. Beyond these roles, Mikey has been a valued mentor to many new firefighters, passing on his knowledge to the next generation of leadership.

While we will miss Mikey's presence as a leader and firefighter, we are glad he will remain a part of our fire family. We wish him the very best as he transitions to spending more time with family and hunting.

Please join us in celebrating Mikey’s service to the Waunakee Fire District, and congratulating him on his retirement!

04/15/2026