A fire that gutted a historic Burlington, Wis., mansion on Friday was arrested shortly after firefighters extinguished its new owner.
The Meinhardt Mansion, a storied mansion dating back to 1883, was sold to Robert Staton in July. According to Go to CBS58 News. According to a press release from the Burlington Police Department (BPD), Staton currently faces multiple charges including careless handling of combustible material, dangerous arson of a residential building, resisting or obstructing an officer, and felony bail jumping. is facing charges. state. (Related: Billionaire's son John Powers Middleton apologizes to Los Angeles for blighting mansion)
“Mr. Staton is currently being held on $15,800 bail and is currently being held in the Racine County Jail,” the statement reads.
“The Burlington Fire Department was dispatched to the 200 block of South Kane Street, Burlington, for a report of a structure fire,” the press release continues. “The Burlington Fire Department arrived on scene at 3:25 a.m. and found a three-story home in heavy flames. First responders arrived and began a defensive attack on the building. personnel arrived and assisted in the defensive attack until the fire was extinguished.
BPD said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“The building will continue to emit smoke over the next few days. We would like to reassure local residents that we will continue to monitor the property and address any issues.” Please stay outside the enclosed area, this facility is unsafe and dangerous,” Burlington Fire Department (BFD) wrote in a social media post.
“It was a bit of a shock. You know, we didn't expect that house to be gone. It's been here all our lives,” said Orin Elling, a local resident whose father lives next door to the mansion. Stud said. “The fire department came and told me to get out of the house because they were worried my house was going to catch on fire.”
“This is just a treasure that we lost,” neighbor Bob Hartwick told the magazine. The house was originally owned by a local banker, who installed the area's first telephone line, connecting his home to the bank, Hartwick added.
BFD told the news outlet that no one was inside the home upon arrival, and first responders were not injured while fighting the fire.
