Local

Smoke detector credited with early warning, less damage by fire

Published

2 weeks ago

June 28, 2025

The Winona Fire Department is crediting the early warning given by a smoke detector with limiting the amount of damage from a porch fire Friday evening.

The department said in a Facebook post that the person living in the home heard the smoke detector going off and found the fire about 9:40 p.m.

After calling 911, the person helped keep the fire in check until the department arrived at the home in the 650 block of Johnson Street.

The post said that early detection and quick call to the department kept the fire damage minimal.

An offer at the end of the post stated that any Winona residents needing a smoke detector can get help through the American Red Cross and the department to get detectors and get them installed in a home.

Click here for a form for the program.

Or you can contact the Winona Fire Department at 507-457-8266

Kevin Millard

Kevin Millard is News Director for WIZM News. A West Salem native, he's spent most of his life, except for a year each in Florida and Wausau, here in the La Crosse area. Broadcasting and the media has been a part of his life since he was filmed in his first commercial in 2nd Grade. Most of his career has been spent working behind the scenes in the newsroom at a local television station. He's been the host of WKTY Outdoors since October 2005.