Quick Thinking Prevents Small House Fire From Growing

Jeremy Wilson, along with his wife and 2-year-old son, could spend Wednesday night in their home at N88W17170 Main St. thanks to the swift action of his best friend Ben Baumann and Menomonee Falls firefighters.

Baumann used a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire that started shortly before 6 p.m. in the fuse box in the basement of Wilson's home. Although Baumann put out the fire, he could still hear crackling in the wall and floorboards, and called the fire department.

Firefighters were called out to the home at 6 p.m., and by 6:45 p.m. they had left the home. Police closed the street between Shady Lane and Sheridan Drive while firefighters were on the scene.

Baumann was in the home with Wilson's family when they noticed the hot water heater wasn't working. When Baumann went into the basement to check the fuse box, he noticed electricity arching from the fuse box and a small fire started.

Baumann said the flames began to creep up the wall and into the floorboards overhead. Baumann grabbed an extinguisher and attempted to put out the fire. 

"I could still hear crackling after I emptied the extinguisher," Baumann said. "I wanted to be safe and I called the fire department. I didn't want the house to go up because of something I couldn't see."

Wilson said he was on his way home from work to meet with Baumann when the fire started. Wilson said his pregnant wife, son, mother-in-law and two cats all made it out of the home safely. He said damage to the home was limited to a few charred floorboards.

"(Ben) was my best friend throughout high school, the best man in my wedding, and now he probably saved my house," Wilson said.

Wilson and his family stayed in the home on Wednesday, but couldn't use hot water. Fortunately, Wilson said he has family in the hot water heating trade and would likely have it fixed by Thursday.