TOWN OF ELLSWORTH – An Ellsworth firefighter was injured while fighting a house fire on Saturday, March 9.

Ellsworth Fire Department responded at 3:01 p.m. to N4360 County Road C in the town of Ellsworth when multiple callers reported a house on fire with smoke and flames visible. One person was inside at the time of the fire but he was able to get out safely.

According to a news release from Ellsworth Deputy Fire Chief Kellen Langer, when law enforcement arrived on the scene, the fire was also spreading to a nearby field behind the home. Crews were able to knock down the fire from the outside before entering the home. Once crews were inside, they experienced heavy fire and smoke conditions as well as a complex building construction condition which made it difficult to extinguish the fire.

“There were several additions put on the house which created many void spaces in the walls and attic which made extinguishing the fire difficult,” Langer said.

Because of the heavy smoke and fire, crews evacuated the home and continued working to extinguish the fire from the exterior. Once they determined it was safe to re-enter, crews went inside to fully extinguish the fire. A brush truck was able to put the fire out in the nearby field.

An engine company from River Falls assisted Ellsworth Fire at the scene. An ambulance transported an injured firefighter to a nearby hospital and was released a short time later. Langer said one cat was inside the residence at the time of the fire and is still unaccounted for.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation but appears to be accidental in nature, according to Langer.

“I’m unsure if the home will be considered a total loss; however, there was heavy fire, smoke and water damage throughout the whole home,” he said.

The home is owned by Mark and Judy Steves.

River Falls Fire, Pierce County Sheriff's Office, Ellsworth Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and Ellsworth Area EMS assisted at the scene. Prescott Fire provided station coverage in Ellsworth during the incident. Ellsworth Fire would like to thank everyone who assisted.