UPDATED: Firefighter killed in Abbotsford, Wisconsin fire. Snow covered theater roof collapsed & took life of Colby FD member. Four others injured.
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UPDATED 6:15 AM
A press conference is expected to be held today to announce the identity of a firefighter from the Colby Fire Department who died yesterday after the collapse of a snow covered roof during a fire in the Abby Theater in Abbotsford, Wisconsin. Below is the latest information.
Watch report from WEAU-TV
Clark County officials in central Wisconsin say a Colby firefighter died while helping fire crews from nearby Abbotsford battle a fire Sunday afternoon.
The towns are just west of Wausau.
The fire gutted the historic Abby Theatre in downtown Abbotsford.
The Abbotsford fire chief says the roof of the theatre was weighed down by snow, and collapsed during the fire.
The fire, reported at about noon, inflicted "substantial damage" to the theater in the 200 block of North First Street, Apfelbeck said. The four exterior walls were left standing, but the "roof completely collapsed," he said.
"There was a lot of heat, a lot of smoke," said Apfelbeck, soot coating his clothes and face, after most of the fire had been extinguished. "It was a bad fire."
Apfelbeck said the collapsed ceiling trapped three firefighters inside. The other two firefighters suffered injuries from falling bricks, he said.
Click here for Marshfield News Herald coverage.
EARLIER COVERAGE
We regret to advise you that a Firefighter from the Colby (WI) FD was killed in the Line of Duty this afternoon-while on a mutual aid fire call. The fire was in the Abby Theater in Abbotsford and is reportedly a major loss-it started around noon. At some point during the operation, several Firefighters were injured when the roof collapsed. EMS units as well as a medical helicopter transported.
Four firefighters battling the blaze were transported to the emergency room in Marshfield, including one who was airlifted by the Spirit helicopter, according to Abbotsford fire chief Jody Apfelbeck.
The ceiling caved in while firefighters were inside the theatre and an unspecified number of them were trapped, he said.
The Clark County Coroner says one of the four firefighters injured when the roof of the Abby Theatre collapsed, has died.
He isn't releasing a name at this time. NewsChannel 7 has learned a press conference is scheduled for tomorrow. A location and time have not been released.
The Clark County coroner has confirmed that one firefighter has died after a blaze at the Abby Theatre in Abbotsford.
A Nursing Supervisor at Ministry St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield says three other firefighters were treated and released.
