Fund Established For Family That Lost House In Overnight Fire

***UPDATE*** A fund has been established for the family at any of the areas Horicon Banks.

—Original Story—

The Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue Department responded to a house fire overnight, Monday, September 4, 2023 in the 200 block of north Military Avenue.

Just after 1:30 AM, Jeff and Stephanie Albers awoke to the sound of their house’s smoke alarm going off. Running downstairs they saw the breezeway separating their house and garage fully engulfed in flames.

The Albers grabbed their two children and were able to exit the house.

Upon arrival, fire crews encountered heavy fire conditions showing from the breezeway of the single family residence.  The fire quickly spread up the side of the house and made its way into the second floor and to the attic. Crews quickly started extinguishing the fire, but not before it caused extensive damage to both levels of the home and garage. 

Stephanie Albers sifts through the charred remains in her children’s rooms where just hours earlier they were sleeping when a fire broke out in the house.

Two dogs were unaccounted for during the fire. Firefighters were able to find one of the dogs lifeless and began to perform lifesaving efforts on it. That dog was able to be revived while the other, as well as some pet birds perished in the fire.

Friends of the Albers were on hand with them early Monday morning sifting through the charred remains of the house, salvaging what they could.

The Red Cross was on hand to assist the family.

Jeff Albers (right) talks with American Red Cross members who were on hand to assist Albers and his family after fire severely damaged their house overnight.

The Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue Department said this fire shows the importance of having working smoke detectors in the home.  “The smoke detectors are what woke the residence and alerted them to the fire.  They were able to safely exit the home without injury.”

 The cause of the fire is under investigation.  Fond du Lac Police assisted with scene management and traffic control. Alliant Energy was called to the scene to secure gas and electric utilities.  Critter Junction Pet Rescue was called to the scene to assist with the family pets.  City water utilities were called to the scene to shut off water to the home.