Watertown Fire Department responds to early morning house fire, several animals lost in tragic incident | Local News

{KXLG – Watertown, SD} Earlier today, Watertown Fire Rescue (WFR) was called to a house fire at 15 10th St SW. The 911 call came in just after 5:20 a.m. and alerted firefighters to a mobile home engulfed in smoke and flames.

Upon arrival, Battalion 1, Engine 4, Engine 3 and Medic 4 were on site. Initial assessments indicated that the house was not occupied by civilians. However, a brief conversation with local residents revealed that there were several animals in the house.

Firefighters immediately entered the building and conducted an initial search. Tragically, several animals, including dogs and cats, were found dead in the house. The fire was successfully extinguished within ten minutes of the emergency services arriving.

The highway was closed for approximately two hours to allow access to a fire hydrant across the street and to parking facilities on Highway 20. This temporary closure was essential to ensure the safety and efficiency of firefighting operations.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. WFR received assistance from the Watertown Police Department and the city's public utility company.