Jan. 7, 2026
By Tim Hundt
VIROQUA, Wis. — Despite a quick response from firefighters, a two story residence at the intersection of East Terhune and South Center Avenue was severely damaged by fire and the loss of a family pet on Wednesday morning.
Viroqua Fire Chief Chad Buros reported that the department was paged at approximately 8:55 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 7 regarding smoke and flames at the intersection. Upon arrival, crews observed flames and smoke at the rear of the structure.
No residents were home at the time of the fire. Buros confirmed that while no people were injured, a pet was lost in the incident.
Firefighters were able to enter the structure and achieve a “good knock down” of the fire, though Buros noted the home sustained a lot of smoke damage. The fire damage was concentrated in the kitchen area and an adjacent room.
Buros said he was on the scene within about 3 minutes of the call and the first truck was on scene within about 7 minutes. He said that likely saved the structure from being a complete loss but the house was severely damaged, and the family will be displaced.
“Minutes are everything in these situations,” said Buros. “But the residents were not home and that probably allowed the fire to build inside before anyone was able to notice it from the outside.’
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The Westby, Viola, and La Farge fire departments provided mutual aid. Assistance at the scene was also provided by the Viroqua Police Department, Viroqua Utilities, Tri-State Ambulance, and local gas and electric utilities.
“We had a good response from our own department and our partners, which makes this as successful as it could be,” Buros said.
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