On the Radar
Early morning fire leaves 3 dead at UW-Stout
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Nick Penzenstadler:
- City Council to unofficially set date for Mifflin party (April 7, 2008)
Related Stories:
- UW cancels today's classes in Van Vleck (March 3, 2008)
- UW cancels classes today in Van Vleck (March 3, 2008)
- Police investigating possible hate crime (April 21, 2008)
- UW remains open during heavy snowfall (February 6, 2008)
- UW re-opens Thursday after Wednesday's snowstorm (February 7, 2008)
Share This:
by Nick Penzenstadler
Saturday, April 5, 2008
MENOMONIE ‑‑ Students wept and shook their heads looking for answers Saturday at a news conference after the early morning deaths of three University of Wisconsin-Stout students.
Amanda Jean Rief, 20 from Chaska, Minn.; April C. Englund, 21, from West St. Paul, Minn.; And Scott A. Hams, 23, from Hayward, Wis., all were found in a two-story structure and rushed to an area hospital but could not be revived.
According to Menomonie Fire Chief Jack Baus, a call was received from neighbors at 3:32 a.m. who heard smoke alarms. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 3:37 a.m. Using thermal imaging equipment the three victims were located in three separate bedrooms on the second floor of the 1415 8th St. residence.
“We attempted resuscitation as soon as possible upon removal from the house and medics did what they could to revive them,” Baus said.
Six other students living in the back half of the duplex all evacuated safely Saturday and made the call to 911. When officials arrived only moderate smoke was showing from the basement, first floor and second floor.
State fire marshals will join city and county officials in investigating the fire that had no obvious cause. Thirty firefighters worked on the blaze and had it under control by 4:30 a.m. according to Baus.
Police chief Dennis Beety said there was some indication alcohol may have been a contributing factor for the three students sleeping through fire alarms.
“There was a bottle of alcohol found in the apartment with its top off but that doesn’t necessarily mean they were drinking,” Beety said.
Police lieutenant Wendi Stelter expressed sympathy for family and friends and said the preliminary indication was that smoke inhalation was the cause of death with no other major traumas to the students.
Beety said the older home was located off campus but was up to fire code and the alarms were working during the fire.
All students received an email Saturday morning and campus officials will continually update the schools website, uwstout.edu, with details. A grief center was also established Saturday at a campus commons with counselors.
“We are grieving, and we will continue grieving for a while with the loss of these lives,” Chancellor Charles Sorenson said.
Sorenson said the fire was the first time anyone has died at Stout due to fire and first time a student has died on campus in the chancellor’s tenure of 20 years.
“It’s a real tragedy, no campus prepares for this,” Sorenson said. “There will be lots of tears, hugging and support as we get through this.”
With the shocking death of the three students Baus emphasized care in handling flammable materials in student housing.
“Students should check their smoke detectors, be careful with matches, and candles,” Baus said. “They also should have good housekeeping with laundry and garbage that can be too close to heating sources.”
