05/09/2026
For Immediate Release:
On Friday, May 8th, 2026, at 9:35am, Oakfield Volunteer Fire Department & EMS, along with Lamartine Volunteer Fire Department, Waupun Fire Department, Brownsville Fire Company, RIT District 4, and Lifestar EMS were dispatched to Oakfield Middle/High School per FDL County Sheriff SRO on scene reporting the smell of something burning in the school, with evacuation of students and staff started.
Upon arrival of first Oakfield Fire units, report was the smell of a candle being blown out throughout the east corridor of the school. It was also reported that burned food, causing smoke in the home economics classroom may have been the root cause, as reported by staff in that area of the building. An engine company made entrance with a thermal imaging camera and gas meter to start investigating. Additional arriving mutual aid units were staged and also made entrance to assist with investigation. An additional engine company was deployed to the roof to investigate.
After a primary search of the school, no smoke was found, and oxygen and gas readings came back in normal ranges. While the investigation being done of the school, three occupants of the school were evaluated for burning eyes and an itchy throat as a result of the incident. As further questioning of teaching and custodial staff was being done, an additional number of occupants were evaluated for the same symptoms. It was at that time a call was placed to Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue to consult with a HAZMAT technician.
Additional resources were brought in from FDL Fire/Rescue to assist with determining a root cause that original gas meters could not detect. A total of 13 occupants were evaluated for the same symptoms, and records of location within the school were taken to determine a possible point of origin. During a secondary search of the school, the HAZMAT technician from FDL Fire/Rescue had a positive meter activation for refrigerant. This was narrowed down to a cooling unit in an IT closet, then isolated further to a roof top air exchange.
Administrative staff and head custodian were notified of the issue found, and a call was placed to the district's HVAC contractor. Through testing during the afternoon on Friday, was found that there was no refrigerant leak coming from the unit(s) that set off HAZMAT sensors.
An ongoing investigation into the root cause is being conducted by Oakfield Volunteer Fire Department & EMS, along with assistance from the School District of Oakfield. Further consulting will be done with FDL Fire/Rescue HAZMAT Team to hopefully determine why gas meter activation happened if there was no leak found upon further service of the system in the afternoon. Additional checks of the school are being done throughout the weekend by custodians, and they will notify the fire department of changes. At this time, it is Oakfield Fire's honest opinion there is no threat to the safety of the students and staff of the School District of Oakfield. We will continue to monitor any issues and respond accordingly as requested. Questions regarding the safety of the school may be directed to the school district, and they will reach out to the fire department with any concerns that may need to be addressed.
Chief Kevin Baker
Oakfield Volunteer Fire Department & EMS
