SALEM LAKES, Wis. — A Salem Lakes family lost their home, a family business, and three beloved pets Saturday morning after a fast-moving fire tore through a residence on Shorewood Drive, prompting a large multi-agency response and a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) activation, a regional mutual-aid network that allows fire departments to quickly summon personnel and equipment from neighboring communities.
Firefighters were dispatched to 7718 Shorewood Drive shortly after 5:15 a.m. for a reported structure fire. Initial reports indicated a dog and two cats were still inside the home and that smoke and flames were visible from the residence.
According to scanner traffic, a deputy initially reported smoke coming from the home. Minutes later, firefighters reported smoke and flames showing from the structure and upgraded the response. At approximately 5:28 a.m., MABAS Box 58-01 was elevated to the Box Alarm level, bringing additional resources from both Wisconsin and Illinois departments.
By approximately 5:35 a.m., command reported heavy fire throughout the structure and advised units would likely remain on scene for at least two hours. Water supply operations were established at the Silver Lake boat launch while crews conducted an offensive attack on the blaze.
The main body of the fire was reportedly knocked down by approximately 5:55 a.m. The Kenosha County Fire Investigation Task Force was requested shortly afterward, and the box alarm was struck out at approximately 6:40 a.m.
In a public Facebook post, homeowner Angelique Muchka described the loss as overwhelming, writing that her business, animals, and much of her life’s work had been destroyed. She also expressed frustration with what she believed was a delayed emergency response.
Salem Lakes Fire Chief Al Carr strongly disputed claims that firefighters took approximately 30 minutes to arrive after the fire was reported. Carr said dispatch records, radio traffic, and incident documentation show Salem Lakes Fire Rescue was dispatched shortly after 5:15 a.m., that firefighters arrived within minutes, and that suppression efforts began immediately upon arrival.
Carr acknowledged that one responding apparatus experienced a brief delay because of a passing freight train but said other Salem Lakes units and personnel had already arrived and were actively engaged in firefighting operations.
A fundraiser created by Muchka’s daughter, Alysia Muchka, states that the fire destroyed the family’s home and all of its contents. The fundraiser further states that two cats and one dog died in the fire and that a son living at the residence attempted to rescue the animals but was forced to escape as flames engulfed the home. The family says the fire also destroyed business inventory, equipment, supplies, and products associated with Angel’s Eden, a handcrafted natural skincare business.
The fundraiser additionally alleges that valuable time was lost before firefighting efforts began, allowing the flames to spread through the residence.
Carr said firefighters encountered a rapidly advancing fire upon arrival and immediately initiated firefighting operations while simultaneously establishing a water supply and requesting additional mutual-aid resources through MABAS.
The chief also noted that residential fires discovered during overnight and early morning hours often progress significantly before emergency services are notified, and that crews encountered a substantial fire condition upon arrival. He emphasized that firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, law enforcement officers, and mutual-aid personnel responded without hesitation and worked aggressively to bring the blaze under control.
Photos posted online by the family show firefighters battling heavy fire conditions as smoke poured from multiple windows of the home.
No civilian injuries have been reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Kenosha County Fire Investigation Task Force.
47 Responses
This is the fundraiser link. Please donate or share! https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-after-the-fire-support-for-our-family-y8u83
Ummmm NO!
Not with that attitude! The family should be grateful for the help they received–these brave men put their lives on the line for them and to have such a rotten response is disgusting.
I didn’t hear what was said
Those firefighters worked their butts off trying to save the home. And she has the audacity to criticize their response time? So ungrateful.
“I want to sincerely apologize for comments I made during the fire. I was in shock watching my home, pets, and entire business burn and reacted from panic and grief. I removed the video because I do appreciate everyone who responded and worked to help. This has been the worst day of my life, and I’m trying to process unimaginable loss. Thank you to everyone showing compassion and support during this time
U just tryin to save your go fund me scam
Are You Kidding me you just said that! Anonymous, unless you have experienced going through such horrific event you have absolutely no idea. Angelique Muchka is in no shape to even think about Go Fund Me page. Thats all set up by family and close friends. Its not even 24hrs she’s still realizing her 3 fur babies are deceased. Come on, Really low of you to place a comment like that about someone you have no clue who she is. OMG
It was her own careless fault☠️
wtf is a fur baby?
I have a Grey recliner couch you can have. I can hold it for you until you have a place to live. 6 to maybe 12 months
I appreciate the follow up with the Fire Chief and him clarifying the timeline. I’m sure to her it probably felt like forever.
No smoke alarms, and no preservation of your animals during a crisis and crashing out on the response the response team is wild.
0/10 will not donate.
The facts are it takes ~7min for a response of police and or rescue to arrive in any situation after a 911 dispatch. Regardless of trains.
This is a go fund me hustle by someone who let her house and animals die and will file a lawsuit
You nailed it, Salem trash and now they want a handout! No thank you
The tone in this woman’s voice was sounds like it’s so child’s father or an ex-husband that she was talking to. She does not seem grateful that anyone was there. Trying to help her in any situation. They are not your baby daddy. They work hard to save people’s lives on a daily basis. It is not their fault. You didn’t have smoke detectors, and you live out in the county where there’s not usually a fire. Station 5 seconds down the road.
I understand she lost everything. I have lost several family members in fires. Unfortunately, my family has had too many fires. We’re more than one person has died, and I still thank the firefighters every day for the ones that survived. And for their help and what they do to help our community stop being so ungrateful, learn to talk to people with respect and take the entitlement out of your voice. When you talk to somebody, you might get a little further in life.
I appologized to the firefighters for what I said before they left I came home and was watching my life burn. I wasn’t talking to anyone I was in the middle of the street hysterical those
Men volunteer to fight fires they did the best they could it felt like hours and hours
“I want to sincerely apologize for comments I made during the fire. I was in shock watching my home, pets, and entire business burn and reacted from panic and grief. I removed the video because I do appreciate everyone who responded and worked to help. This has been the worst day of my life, and I’m trying to process unimaginable loss. Thank you to everyone showing compassion and support during this time. I would never try file lawsuit for what they did thier job this was just devastating
1st of all, not all folks who move to Salem lakes area/Silver lake have the understanding about emergency services is all volunteers. Not everyone knows this facility doesn’t have a team at station on call. When you are going through a tragic event every moment feels like hours. And in those moments you feel helpless because you cannot save your loved ones. It’s perfectly understandable for all those involved to act out insanely. It took half a day with a ton of support to Angelique to calm down and get a grip what was happening before her eyes. I assure all people THIS IS NOT A SCAM! THIS CRAP IS REAL! Not everyone stays calm to speak clearly when doing alive video watching your entire life go up in flames. YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. HOW RUDE OF YOU! It’s Obviously you have never experienced such trauma.
I absolutely cannot believe some of the comments against Angelique. She has profusely apologized to the firemen for screaming out of share terror watching her house, pets and business burn to the ground. That was only her first reaction watching the horrific fire tear her life apart. This poor woman just went through a catastrophic life event and some of the comments are obviously from the people have never been through losing EVERYTHING. How dare they have the audacity to kick her while she’s down. Shame shame!
They even bad mouth the fire dept on the go fund me page….. sorry for the loss but I will not donate to someone who slanders those who risk their lives to help others. There is time stamped proof with every 911 call. Try 10 mins… and 13 mins for assisting agencies.
I appologized to the firefighters before they left I told them I was hysterical and made that post. I came home to my life burning away and my animals. I am so grateful to them and my neighbors. When you watch your entire world burning it just overwhelmed me it felt like hours I also made a video publicly apologizing
Wow, just wow! Very sorry for everything lost in the fire. I myself was a victim of a house fire a few years back. Something you would never want to experience. The fact that the first responders were criticized is unbelievable!! Be grateful your brother and mom made it out alive. That should be your main concern. Shame, shame, shame.
I appologized to the firefighters I came home to that fire I lost everything I was hysterical I should never have done that I am grateful for the firefighters and all
My neighbors for helping me I am devistated and I acted out of feelings I am very regretful
Look at her lengthy rap sheet on the Wisconsin Circuit Court page. Meth, felony, all kinds of stuff. Total scammers.
Um I changed my life around in 2019 got sober started a buisness. I was hysterical and those firemen did there best my animals were burned alive. I was not home when the fire started my son called me home I rent that house I lived there 6 years
Judge yet not, as it is not our place. Everyone is entitled to second chances. Some empathy can be shown. How horrible and sad your own life may be for you to go look someone up who just had devastating losses and was trying hard for themselves
Nik, thank you for taking the words right out of my mouth. Obviously this person doing a background check on someone who just lost everything, publishing their childish comment, is nothing but pouring salt into a wound, and is highly irrelevant in this situation. Some people just live to be mean and ugly
I would think that doing a background check before donating money to someone isn’t necessarily pouring salt into a wound, but instead protecting oneself from being scammed, given all the negative comments regarding the victim’s character.
I apologized to the firefighters before they left they did a great job I was hysterical and acted out of that and I was very wrong the fire fighters were doing a great job
No insurance isn’t my problem
“I want to sincerely apologize for comments I made during the fire. I was in shock watching my home, pets, and entire business burn and reacted from panic and grief. I removed the video because I do appreciate everyone who responded and worked to help. This has been the worst day of my life, and I’m trying to process unimaginable loss. Thank you to everyone showing compassion and support during this time. I also removed this video from Facebook I deleted it and would like it deleted from this post
Wow the only way you can get through something like this is to be grateful that it wasn’t worse than what it was, human lives were saved. But this was just yesterday, and there’s already a gofundme page?
And a great big Amazon wish list lol
Of course there is “already” a Gofundme page! This woman just lost everything and probably doesn’t even have any clothes besides the ones on her back! If it was your family member, I’m sure they would need help IMMEDIATELY and you would not have a problem with that, shame shame
The video she posted of herself driving on FB saying how sorry she is but doesn’t she have an invalid license? How many more times do you need to get caught before you learn your lesson
Went to watch the video after reading this, and I just have one question. This person sells SKINCARE? Omg.
Wondering who called the fire in? Kudos to that person. So glad neighbors had no damage.
Waiting for
-a candle unattended
– overloaded outlet/s
-uncleared dryer filter
-blocked dryer outlet
-smoking couch, bed
-questionable appliance
– a/c overload
I would say after viewing the video that most people would be at a loss for words, except calling out that there were animals inside. Which I then ask, did she put a sign on the door that animals were inside? Do you all have one on your door/s?
Were all building codes followed?
Let’s pretend…ok so I f’d up. No insurance. No smoke alarms. No fire extinguishers and I want the locals to make me whole again.
Prior meth lab
Why couldn’t your son get the dog out? Open the door and the dog 🐕 runs. Unbelievable. That’s criminal.
Im pretty sure it is SOP for firefighters to avoid any routes where they could be deterred by a train.
A station is nearly adjacent to tracks!
Don’t live here, do you?
But this sta was not the primary.
lol tell me you’ve never been a FF without telling me
I have a Grey recliner couch you can have. I can hold it for you until you have a place to live. 6 to maybe 12 months
Maybe your son should get a job instead of panhandling on Facebook. EZ living huh
Oh no rest for the wicked. I can smell your meth/fentynyl lab is already back up in the rental house you acquired out of empathy from the locals or maybe from an associate that knows you are a cash cow in crystal meth/ fenty/snowball industry. You are back to stinking up the county and on a plan to your next fire. Conveniently Angel isn’t home in the middle of the night, she must be off selling skin cream that she buys from the dollar tree and repackaged it for a higher price. It’s more like a hobby. There’s no way to even break even as an internet salesman. You couldn’t even afford renters insurance at $10 a month. Once your addiction got the best of you.
I’m requesting Kevin or the fire department to go do an inspection in her new place and see if they smell the crystal meth/ Fentynyl lab i smell in the county right now. So a volunteer fireman doesn’t get assaulted again, if this meth/fentynyl lab blows like the last one. Also these people shouldn’t be allowed to own pets ever.