Fond du Lac County, WI – Multiple families were displaced Friday after a fast-moving fire damaged several structures in the Village of North Fond du Lac, while a separate school incident earlier in the day led to a precautionary evacuation in Oakfield.
According to authorities, the fire was reported around midday in the 600 block of Illinois Avenue. Crews arrived to find a garage fully engulfed, with strong winds pushing flames to nearby properties. The fire quickly spread, damaging four garages and two homes in total.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies worked to contain the blaze. Officials confirmed that no people were injured, and four dogs were rescued from one of the affected homes and appeared to be in good condition. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Red Cross assisted displaced residents.
Earlier Friday morning, a separate incident unfolded at Oakfield Middle/High School after staff reported a burning odor inside the building.
According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, a school resource deputy responded around 9:30 a.m., prompting a full evacuation of middle and high school students and staff as a precaution.
Fire crews and hazardous materials personnel investigated and identified elevated levels of a refrigerant, believed to have originated from a rooftop HVAC unit. The exact cause remains under review.
Students were dismissed for the remainder of the day, while Oakfield Elementary remained in session. Officials reported no injuries, and reunification efforts were completed safely.
