Weekend Oven Mishap Causes $100,000 in Damages

A police officer on patrol Saturday night spotted billowing smoke coming from a local business, and his quick action may have saved the company big.

According to police reports, Officer Ben Mieloszyk was driving west on Durand Avenue at 11:23 pm when he spotted smoke coming from what appeared to be the roof of L & S Electric at 10200 Durand Ave. He radioed dispatch to contact a company keyholder as well as South Shore Fire.

Firefighters got inside and discovered an oven with a motor that was overheating. They shut off the gas supply and ventilated the building to cool the oven and clear the air.

L & S Electric, according to a representative at the Sturtevant facility, is an electric motor repair company. Part of the process involves cleaning a motor and then putting it in the oven to dry.

"We do use baking ovens to dry equipment," he told Patch.

The police report states a gauge on the oven's motor may have been defective, causing the oven to overheat.

When we asked about the damage costs, Patch was directed to the company's corporate office in Wausau. A message there has not yet been returned.

But South Shore Fire Chief William Bouma said estimated damage is around $100,000 for the lost motor and the damaged oven. He credits Mieloszyk for good looking-out.

"He did excellent job of thinking something wasn't quit right and went exploring. He found smoke that didn't look right and called us," he said. "This could have been multi-million dollar fire without his action. Officer Mieloszyk is a very bright young officer."