Wildfire — Monroe, Wisconsin

2012-09-27 to 2012-09-30 · Monroe, Wisconsin

Direct deaths

Injuries

$70K

Property damage

Event narrative

One woman was killed and another seriously injured from vehicle accidents that occurred in thick smoke from a wildfire. In the first accident, one vehicle was rear ended by another. While the drivers where standing between the two vehicles inspecting the damage, a third vehicle slammed into the back of one of the vehicles from the first accident pushing it into the women. A 57 acre wildfire in the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge was responsible for the smoke that closed a 10 mile portion of State Highway 173 both Saturday Sept. 29 and Sunday Sept. 30th. The fire was started by a hawk that got tangled in power lines and was battled by crews from the Warrens Fire Department, Wisconsin DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

Wider weather episode

One woman was killed and another seriously injured in two separate auto crashes. The accidents occurred in extreme northeast Monroe County along State Highway 173 near the intersection of County Road EW in low visibility due to smoke from a wildfire burning in the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. The first accident occurred when one vehicle rear ended the other. The drivers were standing between the two vehicles when another crashed into the rear of one of the vehicles involved in the first accident pushing it into the women. It was the injuries from the second accident that caused the death and injuries. Officials closed a 10 mile stretch of State Highway 173 both Saturday September 29th and Sunday September 30th because of low visibility from the fire. Crews from the Warrens (Monroe County) Fire Department, Wisconsin DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife were able to contain the fire in less than 4 hours after it was first reported. The fire was not declared out until the middle of October. Almost 57 acres were burned by the fire that was started by a hawk that got tangled in power lines.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 411970. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.