Germantown, WI – A severe lightning storm on Monday night caused a tree to erupt with natural gas and triggered a fire, leading to multiple evacuations and a significant emergency response.
According to Incident Commander Battalion Chief Ryker Holms, the Germantown Fire Department was dispatched at 10:06 p.m. to the corner of Starlight Road and Pilgrim Road. A neighbor had extinguished the fire, but a strong odor of natural gas was detected, and the ground around the tree was rupturing with gas.
Fire crews were unable to shut off the underground gas line, deploying handlines for structure protection. Shortly after, a nearby resident reported a house fire eight homes away. The call was upgraded to a Working Still level, dispatching additional resources.
One unit responded to Venus Court and Moonlight Drive, where a gas meter had exploded, setting a residence on fire. Crews extinguished the blaze but struggled to secure the gas utility. Additional teams shut off the gas and ventilated the residence. The natural gas odor was pervasive, affecting several blocks and leading to precautionary evacuations.
Firefighters operated for three hours before the scene was handed over to WE Energies. Residents were allowed to return home once the area was deemed safe. The Village of Germantown also managed three other emergency calls during this period.
The Germantown Fire Department extended gratitude to supporting agencies, including Menomonee Falls, Grafton, Hartford, Jackson, Lisbon, Slinger, Richfield, Southern Ozaukee, and West Bend Fire Departments, for their assistance in managing the large-scale incident and ensuring community safety.
