Suspicious fire burns garage a second time in just over a year

A second fire in just over a year in a garage on a property in Fairwater has authorities looking into what may have caused it.

At 10:15 Monday night, October 15, 2024, a passerby noticed the fire at 311 Main Street and called the Fond du Lac County Communications Center. The Brandon/Fairwater, Alto and Ripon fire departments as well as county officers were dispatched and when first responders arrived, the garage was fully engulfed in flames.

Through investigation it was learned the garage had a previous fire on August 29, of 2023 and had not been repaired. It’s unknown which items in the garage were previously damaged, and what was destroyed in last night’s fire. The garage is now considered a total loss.

Authorities don’t know what caused the fire but say it does look suspicious in nature and an investigation is underway.