One Fatality in Wisconsin Rapids Fire

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (OnFocus) – One person died in a house fire shortly after midnight at 511 11th Street South in Wisconsin Rapids. Three other occupants of the building escaped, and one was transported to a local hospital.

The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation. Identification of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family. The Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department responded at 00:19 for a 1 ½ story single family residence on fire with a subject trapped in an upper bedroom.

Upon arrival Firefighters were met with heavy fire and smoke coming from the first and second level of the structure. Fire Departments helping to control the fire include Grand Rapids, Nekoosa, Port Edwards, Biron, Rudolph, and Vesper.

Other agencies assisting include Wisconsin Rapids Police Department (WRPD), United Emergency Medical Response, Wood County Dispatch, Red Cross, WE Energies, and WWLC. It is undetermined whether the property had working smoke alarms at the time of the frre. The fire was declared controlled at 01:15.

Damage is estimated as a total loss. The City of Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department and WRPD are investigating the cause and origin of the fire with The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

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