WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) – Wausau emergency services will be going through a controlled burn this morning on the east side of town.
That training will start this morning at 7am the 800 block of Chicago Avenue. The property is a blighted house that already has previous fire damage, according to battalion chief Paul Czarapata. "It's since been vacant and it's blighted and not something people want to live next to." The owner of the house has recently agreed to let the city demolish it, and they'll be doing so through the fire.
A number of different city departments will be taking part in the bun today, primarily the police and fire departments. Czarapata says other departments help out as well. "We work with community development when they work with blight clean up and acquiring the properties." The department of public works will also be on hand to help ensure water safety and to do final demolition once the building has been burnt down.
Traffic on 9th Street from Bridge Street to Chicago Avenue and on Chicago Avenue from 8th Street to 9th Street will be closed will be closed until 2 pm today while the city completes the burn.