FAIRWATER HAS A COSTLY BLAZE - NEW FIRE EQUIPMENT GETS FIRST TRY-OUT - VOLUNTEERS DO EFFICIENT WORK
Brandon Times, August 23, 1923

   What threatened to be a very disastrous conflagration occurred at FairWater at about 11:00 Saturday night when a warehouse full of farm machinery and feed was completely destroyed by fire of unknown origin. The warehouse was owned by Charles Kuehn and was but a short distance from Mr. Kuehn's elevator filled with grain, and it was only by strenuous effort on the part of the FairWater Volunteer Company, with their new fire fighting apparatus purchased about a year ago, that the elevator was saved from destruction. As it is the loss to Mr. Kuehn is estimated to run into the thousands. This is the first time the new fire apparatus has been put to the test and the result indicates that it was not found wanting. The volunteers are also entitled to much credit for their efficient work.

[Second article from the same issue]
   Saturday evening between 10:30 and 10:45 fire broke out at Kuehn's elevator. The machine shed, containing a large amount of feed and machinery were destroyed. The fire was discovered by Jul. and Charles Cort. They had just passed the elevator on their way home but did not notice any fire until they reached their home. They immediately returned and put in the alarm. This is the first time the fire department has been called out since they have had the fire engine and they surely desreve credit for the work they done, it being only six minutes from the time the alarm was put in that they had water and were fighting the blaze. It was only from their good work that the surrounding buildings were saved as the wind was in just the right direction to blow sparks on them. The Kuehn family were at Horicon at the time.