Bio: Rol, Joe (Home Fire – Sep 1973)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Rol, Gehrke

---------Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 27 Sep 1973

The Owen-Withee Community Fire Department was called to the Joe Rol home, the first place west of the Withee (Clark Co., Wis.) Village limits on the north side of County Trunk X at 9 p.m., Wednesday, sept 19, 1973.

By the time the department arrived at the scene, the attached "L" shaped garage was engulfed in flames, and the house badly threatened. The water supply was limited, but the firemen put up a portable canvas tank and filled it repeated from nearby sources at Owen and Withee, but were still unable to save the house because of a water shortage.

Fire Chief Ron Gehrke said the fire of undetermined origin, started in the garage and spread very rapidly.

He estimated the loss in the neighborhood of $11,000.

Mr. Rol was stricken at the scene of the fire and taken to the hospital in Stanley, where he was confined for four days for treatment of shock.