SPARTA, Wis. (WXOW) - The Sparta Area Fire Protection District was busy early Sunday morning having to deal with two house fires at the same time.
Chief Mike Arnold said that is why it's important to have mutual aid agreements with other departments. He said this isn't the first time back to back calls have happened.
The first call came in at about 12:14 a.m. for a fire at 14344 State Highway 71 in the Town of Wells south of Sparta.
The attached garage was on fire. Everyone was out of the home by the time firefighters arrived.
Once the fire was extinguished, the garage had heavy damage with the home having minor damage.
One the way to this call, Chief Arnold said their Engine 3 truck hit a deer which caused minor damage to the truck.
In both the fire and deer collision, no one was hurt.
Roughly 20 minutes after getting the first call, the second call came in for a fire north of Sparta in the Town of Little Falls.
A neighbor called saying they'd heard several explosions and a house was on fire at 6785 Cardinal Road.
Station 3 units from Cataract left the first fire to go to this new one.
Chief Arnold asked for help from Black River Falls, Melrose, and Farmington fire departments.
Both the home and garage were fully engulfed.
Vehicles and equipment were in the garage when the fire broke out he said.
Two dogs and two cats died in the fire. Other dogs outside in a kennel were rescued.
Crews were at the home until shortly after 4:30 a.m.
The people that lived in each home are staying with family.
Chief Arnold said causes for the fires are under investigation.