LACROSSE, Wis. – Firefighters battled a fire over night at the Casino Bar on Pearl Street in a century-old building in densely packed row buildings downtown. Upstairs apartments were heavily damaged, although tenants all escaped. Adjoining buildings were saved. There was heavy smoke damage, however, at Brothers Bar next door. Firefighters were impeded by freezing temperatures and called for re-enforcements from other municipalities. Crews used ladder trucks to fight the fire from both the front and rear of the buildings. Pearl Street was closed between between Third and Fourth. So was Third between Main and Jay streets. At one point 54 personnel and 18 apparatus were on scene. Third Street was opened to traffic by commuting time Tuesday morning.
Ladder truck. Firefighters aim water from the street, the alley and from above. Access was difficult, mostly through the alley between Bennett O’Riley’s Pub and an Enterprise car rental office and the Casino and Brothers bars.
Image: LaCrosse Fire Department