GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Investigators believe an improperly discarded cigarette sparked a fire at a duplex in Grand Chute over the weekend.
Crews were called to the 2900 block of W. Big Bend Drive just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Firefighters battle a fire in Grand Chute April 10, 2022. (Video submitted by Jesús Bautista)
Seven people were displaced and the fire caused nearly $200,000 in damage.
High winds also made it challenging for firefighters to put the flames out.
Officials say improper disposal of smoking materials, such as cigarettes, are a common cause of destructive fires. Here’s some tips from the Grand Chute Fire Department:
Use a metal container filled with sand for disposal of cigarette ash and butts. If using an ashtray, select one that has a stable and wide base.
Soak cigarette ashes and butts in water before disposing of them in a trashcan.
Never discard cigarette materials that have not been soaked into anything plastic, such as a flower pot or plastic garbage can. Hot ashes can smolder for lengthy periods (even days) and eventually start a fire in any plastic container.
Similarly, never discard cigarette materials in mulch or containers with dirt. Soil and mulch contain organic, flammable materials that can also smolder for a lengthy period and start a larger fire in the surrounding mulch, container(s), or siding.
Do not throw lit cigarettes out of moving vehicles or directly on the ground. This can increase the potential for fire, especially in the dry early spring months, and even result in a fine for littering.
