Attic Fire leaves Grand Chute family without home, cigarettes likely cause
According to the Grand Chute Fire Department, crews were called to a home in the 2000 block of West Hiawatha Drive in Grand Chute just before 7 p.m. on July 25 after getting multiple 911 calls reporting heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof of the home.
Equipment fire at Fond du Lac's Milk Specialties causes evacuation, suspended operations
Neighbors reportedly saw the fire first and alerted the residents, who were all able to safely evacuate the home, including their pets. No injuries were reported.
With help from multiple fire departments, the fire in the attic was put out from outside the house. Crews then pulled down the ceiling and soffits in several areas to be completely sure that the fire was out.
The release notes that although a damage value has not been determined, it is likely that most or all of the house will need to be rebuilt.
Shawano Police remind residents about city curfew ordinance in effect for minors
Authorities also pointed to improper disposal of cigarettes outside the house as the unofficial cause of the fire. The fire reportedly started on the house's siding before burning to the attic and spreading.
No additional information was provided.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNET
13 minutes ago
- CNET
This Chef-Inspired Steak Hack Delivers Accurate Results Every Time
Is there anything more heartbreaking -- in the kitchen at least -- than shelling out for a gorgeous, thick-cut steak and then accidentally overcooking it? Even if you think you've mastered checking for doneness by touch, it can be a gamble when you're relying on multiple variables with the stovetop or grill to deliver a perfect medium rare to a thick-cut piece of meat. Some methods call for starting a steak on the stovetop or grill for a beautifully caramelized exterior crust and then finishing in the oven for more even cooking. But a simple, chef-inspired hack says the opposite: literally, reverse that. Reverse searing is a method frequently used by chefs that delivers consistent results when it comes to cooking thick steaks to perfect doneness, no matter how you prefer them. I tried it, and now I'll never do it any other way again. What is reverse searing? We've been testing methods for cooking steak, including the souse vide 137 club and now the reverse sear. John Carlsen/CNET Reverse searing involves cooking meat at a low temperature for even, gentle cooking and then finishing on the stovetop or grill for a caramelized crust. Low-and-slow cooking is often favored to deliver tenderness to tough cuts. Imagine what it can do when you start with something that is already tender. "By cooking at a lower temperature, you let the marbling and collagen of the beef break down slowly, resulting in something that's extra meaty and juicy," says Danny Ganem, Culinary Director of Gioia Hospitality Group, which includes the newly-opened Daniel's Steakhouse in Miami. "It's great for melding flavors and adding even more tenderness to a thick cut of steak." Read more: Reddit Agrees, the '137 Club' Is the Best Way to Make Steak. Here's How It Works High heat is reserved for the end of the process after the meat is perfectly relaxed, "to achieve that beautiful mahogany crust," says Ganem, without it seizing up due to the sudden temperature difference when you put a cold steak on a hot pan. This also keeps the natural moisture content of the meat -- its juices -- more evenly distributed during the cooking process. What do you need for a reverse sear? You'll need a few pieces of equipment for a reverse sear, but nothing that a well-stocked kitchen doesn't already have. Pamela Vachon/CNET Chefs will often apply a sous vide technique for a reverse sear, but you don't have to get that technical to accomplish it at home. "The best tools are a temperature-controlled oven that can achieve consistent temperatures of under 180 degrees Fahrenheit, a sheet pan with a wire rack, and a good cast iron (or heavy-duty stainless steel) pan where you can finish your steak at a high temperature," says Ganem. (Food writer hack: If you don't think you already have the necessary wire rack -- check your toaster oven.) Pamela Vachon/CNET An oven-safe thermometer with a temperature alert is also helpful for tracking the internal temperature of the meat in the thickest part while it cooks. I highly recommend this over an instant-read thermometer, which requires you to repeatedly open the oven to check. If you're relying on timing or other cues rather than precise temperature tracking, you're potentially losing the accuracy that this method can ensure. What cuts are best for reverse searing? Ribeyes make a good candidate for the reverse sear. Pre Reverse searing works best with thick cuts of steak. Anything under an inch and you don't have enough thickness to get an accurate temperature reading in the center of the steak, so look for grocery store steaks that are cut to at least 1.5" to 2" thick, or ask your butcher for those dimensions, or even thicker. This method can even apply to thick cuts from pork or lamb. Certain steak cuts are naturally limited in their thickness, so this method doesn't apply to every cut. "My personal preferences for reverse searing are big and thick cuts like a Porterhouse, Côte de Boeuf, (bone-in ribeye) or a beautiful Prime Rib," says Ganem. I tried it with a 1.5-inch thick ribeye from the grocery store. (Spoiler alert: Never has a grocery store cut seen a better outcome.) This method is tailor-made for a Porterhouse, Côte de Boeuf (bone-in ribeye), or beautiful Prime Rib. Pamela Vachon/CNET Reverse searing method You will need: Thick cut steaks (at least 1.5-inch thick) Salt and pepper High-heat cooking oil and butter (optional) Sheet tray with wire rack Oven-safe thermometer Cast iron or heavy-duty stainless steel pan (nonstick not recommended for this) Once out of the oven, sear steaks on both sides for about 1 minute per side, Pamela Vachon/CNET Directions: Assemble equipment and preheat oven to 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit Season steaks liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Place steaks on wire racks over a sheet tray, and insert an oven-safe thermometer into the thickest part of the steak, as centered as possible. Reverse sear temp chart Doneness Oven temp Rare 105-110 F Medium rare 115-120 F Medium 125-130 F Medium well 135-140 F Cook until temperature reaches desired doneness. This may take 30 to 40 minutes or more, depending on the consistency of your oven temp and the desired temperature: If you're watching the temperature increase with an oven-safe thermometer, you'll have a sense of when your steaks are about to come out of the oven. In the last minute or two, heat oil (with optional butter) in pan until nearly smoking. Once out of the oven, sear steaks on both sides for about 1 minute per side, making sure the entire surface of the steak is in contact with the pan. You may choose to rest the steaks momentarily when done cooking, but with the reverse sear method, this is less important, as the consistency of the lower temperature early in the cooking process helps with the even distribution of juices. Resting can happen, but it's less important than with other cooking methods. Pamela Vachon/CNET Benefits and drawbacks for reverse searing Because the reverse sear method takes much more time than simply searing on the stovetop or grill, "the biggest drawback is time consumption and planning," says Ganem. "You can't simply pull a steak out of the fridge and cook it fast." I found this to be a bonus, however, in terms of preparing the whole meal. While the steak was in the oven I was able to use the stovetop to prepare other components without having to keep a close eye on the meat, which were then ready to go when the steak came out for its last couple minutes of searing and I could give it my full attention. Not having to rest the meat also means that you get to enjoy it hotter, a bonus which cannot be understated. Regardless of effective "tenting" during the rest period that other methods require, your steak is going to lose some of its heat while it waits to be cut.


CNET
13 minutes ago
- CNET
SSDI August 2025: Here's When Your Next Payment Is Coming
August's SSDI checks are headed to beneficiaries soon. Here's this month's payment schedule. CNET All Social Security Disability Insurance payments have gone out for the month of July and that means August's payments will soon be headed out to recipients. If you're unsure when you're supposed to get paid, we have you covered. The Social Security Administration sends monthly payments to people with disabilities that prevent or limit their ability to work. Depending on their individual situation, others may qualify and can apply for SSDI as well. We'll break down the full SSDI payment schedule for the month of August and how your payment date is calculated so you'll know exactly when you can expect your check. For more, here's what you can do if your last payment never arrived, and here's the Supplemental Security Income payment schedule. If you've had SSDI since May 1997 or earlier, or also receive SSI If you started getting SSDI before May 1997, you'd usually receive your payment on the third day of every month. Note that this isn't always the case, like when the third day falls on a weekend or holiday. For 2025, this will happen in August, so you can expect to receive that month's payment one to two days earlier. If you also receive Supplemental Security Income, you'll fall into this category. You'll receive your SSDI payment on the third of every month and your SSI payment on the typical day, the first of the month. For everyone else, payments are birth date-dependent If you began receiving SSDI after May 1997 and don't also receive SSI, then your payment date is determined by the day of the month you were born. Payments are typically paid out on the second, third and fourth Wednesday of the month. Which Wednesday you get your check breaks down like this: Birthdate between Social Security check date 1st and 10th of the month Second Wednesday of the month 11th and 20th of the month Third Wednesday of the month 21st and 31st of the month Fourth Wednesday of the month Here's when you'll get your SSDI payment in August Here's when your SSDI payment should arrive this month: If you've received Social Security before May 1997 Aug 1 If your birthday falls between day 1 and 10 of the month Aug 13 If your birthday falls between day 11 and 20 of the month Aug 20 If your birthday falls between day 21 and 31 of the month Aug 27 How does 2025 COLA affect my payment? The COLA for 2025 introduced a 2.5% increase in monthly benefit checks, but exactly how much of an increase will depend on several factors. Any monthly income, how long you've received benefits and what type of benefit you receive can result in a different payment increase. Recipients should have received their COLA notice sometime in December with specific details on their case. A COLA of 2.5% will add about $48 to the average benefits check. We're only a few months away from the 2026 COLA announcement, so expect it to affect your monthly payment in the new year. For more, don't miss four ways you could lose your Social Security benefits and how to apply for SSI.

Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Family vows to rebuild after fire destroys 5th-generation CT farmhouse. ‘We are not alone'
The Burke family lost their home, family pets, personal belongings and almost everything they own when a fire ripped through their fifth-generation Connecticut farmhouse. The South Windsor family is trying to pick up the pieces, and the community is helping out. Loyal Burke Ridge Farms customer Kelly Juleson is spearheading a GoFundMe account that has already netted more than $30,000 as of Monday afternoon. 'We are overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of love and support from our community during this incredibly difficult time. The loss of our home, our belongings, and our pets has been devastating. But we have found something extraordinary: the strength, generosity, and kindness of the people around us,' the Burke Family said in a statement. 'While we have lost so much, we have also gained more than we could ever have imagined. Your messages, donations, and helping hands have reminded us that we are not alone.' 'While we cannot get back what we have lost, we have the foundation of five generations of work, memories, and commitment to the community and we are committed to rebuilding. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. You've helped us begin to heal, and you've given us hope for the road ahead,' the statement said. There was a constant flow of customers at the store at 95 Wapping Wood Road in Ellington on Monday. The store remained opened through the weekend and hasn't missed a day. The farmhouse is on 175 acres in South Windsor. The home is South Windsor, but the Burke Ridge Farms shop, where the family sells ice cream and fresh meat products, is in Ellington. Juleson said in the GoFundMe description that the fire was ignited by a lightning strike and within minutes had spread room to room and that the Burke family was left with just 'ashes and heartbreak.' Bill and Christa lived on one floor and daughter Brittani and her boyfriend lived on the other floor. Juleson said all four lost everything that wasn't on their backs or in their cars. Tragically, the family lost several cats to the fire as well as a staple on the property, family dog Twist. Christa Burke said her no one was in the house when the lightning bolt struck on Friday afternoon. 'Our garden center is across the farm from our home, and we were here working and scooping ice cream,' Christa Burke said in between customers. 'My daughter was about to go home and take the dog out of the house and thank God she didn't get there sooner because she very well could have been in there too. We are trying to look at that as the silver lining here. We are very sad about our pets. That's probably the hardest part of all of this. They were a part of our family.' The Burke's have nearly 200 cows, about 20 pigs, as well as sheep, chicken and goats on the land. The family continues to tend to their animals as well as working at their farm ice cream stand. 'It's been a lot. It was more than a home. It was the central hub for five generations of our family operation,' Brittani said. 'Everything we have to run our farm was destroyed. We were sitting there watching the house burn. We were tending to the animals, and it was a hot day. Their needs come first and we were getting them water.' The 20 pigs were loose during the fire and were caught by South Windsor animal control and are being sheltered at a friend of the Burkes. Juelson said she met the Burkes almost five years ago when she moved into town and met Bill and Christa. Her family would get ice cream and became close with the Burkes over the years. 'The Burkes are the kind of people you want in your community: salt-of-the-earth, hardworking, humble. After years of challenges, they've fought hard to find stability — to protect their land, their legacy, and their family business. And now, they're starting over from scratch,' Juleson said. Juleson said the Burkes weren't looking for handouts, but she insisted that people would want to help them. 'I was too proud to ask for help and Kelly was OK we are doing this,' Christa Burke said. 'I'm just so thankful to her and so many in the people in the community that have helped. It's been incredible. People have stepped up. Kelly really stepped up and she has really been incredible.' Juleson said she pulled into the property on Friday expecting no one to be there and she said the store was still open. 'Everything continued to go on as their home is burning behind them,' Juleson said. 'I pulled into the ice cream stand thinking, no one would be here. Well, the house was still smoldering, and they were working. They were here scooping ice cream and people were coming who had no idea what was going on behind them. And so, you know, that they had to like grin and bear it and continue to serve ice cream… that's how committed they are to the work, but then also the animals, they can't take a break.' In addition to the monetary contributions, Juleson said on Sunday there were nearly 50 volunteers helping the Burke's transplant and plant mums for the fall. 'The community has turned out for the Burkes. I had tears in my eyes pulling up to the farm yesterday and seeing close to 50 people helping them replant their mums,' Juleson said. The volunteers helped transplant into larger pots as well as planting into the ground. This will allow the family to sell the plants in the fall. 'People who live in the surrounding know this could have been them and just knowing the loss that the Burke's have faced is gut-wrenching,' Juleson said. 'It's not just their house; they have lost all of their livestock supplies.' The tragedy struck on Friday around 2 p.m. and the South Windsor Fire Department responded to the fire at the two-and-a-half-story farmhouse on Niederwerfer Road. According to the fire department, first responders arrived within six minutes and saw a 'large amount of fire on the front porch and first floor.' South Windsor Fire Department said that the entry was made through the other side of the house and firefighters were able to save two cats that 'appeared OK.' The volume of the fire prevented further interior searches, but the homeowner arrived shortly after and confirmed that the occupants were not in the building. Late Sunday night, a third surviving cat emerged on the farm and is back with the family. Christa said the cat seems OK but may be a little traumatized. All 40 members of the South Windsor Fire Department were on scene and South Windsor received aid from eight other departments as well as jurisdictional coverage from two others, according to the South Windsor Fire Department. The South Windsor Fire Department said, 'The weather played a role as this response was during a storm cell with lightning and high temperatures tipping close to 100 degrees.' State Senator Saud Anwar, who represents East Hartford, Ellington, East Windsor and South Windsor, visited the Burke's at Burke Ridge Farms on Sunday and said the community response to the fire has been 'heartwarming.' 'This is heartbreaking because they have been such an important part of the community and lightning can strike any one of us and destroy our homes and every memory,' Anwar said. 'The other thing that has happened is that this has brought people together and allow everyone to rally together to help in any way possible.' 'As I told the family, this is a marathon and there are multiple parts to this marathon, and we will be with them throughout this journey to help them because they'll have to rebuild their home,' Anwar added. South Windsor Fire Department said in its report on the fire that the area of town had no nearby hydrants and they were laying a supply line from more than 3,000 feet away. Anwar said this is an issue he is looking into. He said if a hydrant was in the area perhaps the outcome could have been better. 'It's a farm and there's no public water supply, so the Connecticut water lines do not go close to that area, so we did not have hydrants,' Anwar said. 'That created a delay despite the South Windsor Fire Department being there right away within a matter of minutes…pressure that is needed to have an immediate response was somewhat delayed because of lack of fire hydrants and lack of having enough supply.' Anwar said he is going to have a meeting with Connecticut Water, the mayor, town manager and state Rep. Tom Delnicki to 'discuss what can be done to address this issue.' 'We want to make sure that every town, not only South Windsor, but every other town where there is a risk of having limitation of access of water for emergencies, we have to figure out a strategy around this,' Anwar said. For now, the Burke family is staying with friends in town and the store has remained open and busy. 'The farming community is so important to all of us, especially here in South Windsor, we are very interested in protecting our lands, keeping this beautiful space for our community, they're not going to be able to do it alone,' Juleson said. Juleson said people have been reaching out through email on the GoFundMe page to offer to help the Burke's by volunteering in addition to monetary donations. She said for those who wish to donate their time or services are asked to email Burkeridgefarmvols@ Brittani, 24, said her goal has always been to take over the farm someday and continue the family legacy. She said the farm is 'going to come back better and stronger than ever thanks to the support from the community.' 'It's been a devastating loss, but it has been great to see the community come together for us and have given us the strength to forge on,' Brittani Burke said. 'We are more overwhelmed by the response of our community than what happened,' Christa Burke added. Solve the daily Crossword