MARCH 5, 2015
FRANKLIN, WISCONSIN
Franklin Fire Department responded to a house fire near the
intersection of S. 122nd Street and W. Elmwood Drive around 3:44 p.m. on Thursday
afternoon, March 5th.
A water heater is suspected of igniting spray paint fumes
from a craft project for her daughter’s birthday in a home in Franklin on
Thursday, leading to an explosion and fire that injured a woman and caused more
than $100,000 in damage, fire department officials said.
The fire, reported shortly after 4 p.m. in the 12100 block
of Elmwood Road, also singed the hair of the woman's two daughters, ages 5 and
8, according to a news release from the Franklin Fire Department.
According to the release, the 45-year-old woman, who was
using the spray paint in an enclosed area of the home's basement, suffered
minor burns to her hands.
Her 16-year-old son who was upstairs escaped injury and no
one was taken to a hospital.
Because there are no fire hydrants in the area, firefighters
from Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Oak Creek, Raymond, New
Berlin, Tess Corners and the Wisconsin Air National Guard 128th Air Refueling
Wing had to use water tankers to battle the blaze, according to the release.
Everytime you use aerosol canisters, please use them in a well-ventilated area and away from any fire or source of ignition, including the pilot lights of the water heaters, etc.