Basement fire causes $125,000 damage to Appleton home

APPLETON, WI — A basement fire causes heavy damage to an Appleton home on Sunday. The Appleton Fire Department was dispatched to a location in the 1100 block of West Elsie Street around 8:00 PM. Firefighters found thick smoke coming from a side door of a house and encountered heavy smoke and flames in the basement. Fire crews had to attack the fire from the top of the stairs and through side windows. It took about a half-hour to bring the blaze under control. Those living at the home escaped before firefighters arrived. The fire is believed to have started in a corner of the basement. Damage is estimated at around $125,000.