Police investigating apartment fire

SHAWANO — Police say an apartment fire in the city Friday is being considered suspicious in nature, though the exact cause is not known at this time.

Shawano police and the Shawano Area Fire Department responded at 5:41 p.m. to a report of a fire at an eight-unit apartment building in the 100 block of South Andrews Street.

Police found smoke in the building and evacuated residents.

The fire was limited to one of the apartments and was quickly extinguished by firefighters.

No injuries were reported.

Residents from the other apartments were allowed back into their units.

Police Chief Dan Mauel said the residents of the apartment where the fire occurred were not home at the time.

“The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time but is considered to be suspicious,” Mauel said.

The investigation is ongoing, he said.

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office and Shawano Ambulance assisted at the scene.

The fire was one of two firefighters dealt with over the weekend.

The fire department also responded to a kitchen fire in the 700 block of East Lieg Avenue shortly after 7 a.m. after a dishwasher shorted out, according to Fire Chief Shawn Borlace.

Residents called 911 and evacuated the home.

“We did an offensive attack and were able to knock (the fire) down with minimal damage done,” Borlace said.

tryan@newmedia-wi.com