One Death Confirmed In Beaver Dam Apartment Fire

(Beaver Dam) A weekend fire at a Beaver Dam apartment complex claimed one life and left another person in critical condition. Beaver Dam Fire Captain Paul Hartl confirmed Sunday afternoon that occupant accountability was completed after a thorough investigation at the Executive Apartments on the 600 block of West Third Street. Five residents in total were transported from the scene. In addition to the deceased, Hartl says one resident suffered life-threatening injuries. Also, one firefighter was transported with non-life-threatening injuries.

The fire was first reported at 6am Saturday and it took over seven hours to contain the blaze which continued to smolder for hours afterward. Heavy equipment was brought because the roof of the 17-unit complex collapsed during firefighting operations. Hartl says the collapsed roof covered most of the fire which made suppression efforts difficult. Some nearby homes on West Third Street were evacuated for a short time because of fire conditions.

St. Vincent de Paul has set up an Emergency Response Fund at the American Bank for those affected by the fire. Monetary donations can be made at the three Beaver Dam locations and non-monetary donations are being collected at the St. Vincent De Paul Store on 125 Dodge Drive in Beaver Dam.

Beaver Dam was assisted at the scene by emergency officials from Horicon, Juneau, Watertown, Burnett, Clyman, Hustisford, Lowell, Mayville, Randolph, Reeseville, Waupun, Columbus, Fox Lake along with the Wisconsin State Patrol, Dodge County Emergency Management, Dodge County Public Health, the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the Beaver Dam Department of Public Works. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Beaver Dam Police and Fire departments with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the State Fire Marshall’s Office.