UPDATE: One dead, one in critical condition after Beaver Dam apartment fire
Updated: 3:49 p.m. April 8, 2018
BEAVER DAM, Wis. (CBS 58) -- In an updated release from the Beaver Dam Fire Department, it is confirmed that one person died in the apartment fire.
Five other people were taken to the hospital and one has life threatening injuries and remains in critical condition.
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Updated: 08:30 p.m. April 7, 2018
BEAVER DAM, WI (CBS 58) -- A fire in a 17 unit apartment complex in Beaver Dam sent several people to the hospital Saturday. The fire had some residents on edge, as it's just about a month after a deadly explosion at another apartment complex in the city.
Five occupants of the Executive Apartments were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries, but the severity of those injuries has not been released. At an afternoon news conference it was learned that two firefighters were also injured, but those injuries are considered minor.
The fire was reported around 6 AM Saturday and firefighters from 12 different departments were called in to fight the blaze. The fire caused the roof of the building at 600 W Third Street to collapse. Heavy equipment has been brought in to help remove debris as authorities attempt to account for all of the buildings occupants. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
24 residents of the apartments are being assisted by the Red Cross and an Emergency Response Fund for the victims has been setup by St. Vincent De Paul. Non-monetary donations are being accepted at the St. Vincent De Paul Store at 125 Dodge Drive in Beaver Dam.
Saturday's fire comes nearly a month after an explosion at another apartment complex in Beaver Dam. On March 5, officials were called to the apartment complex on Knaup Drive for an explosion. Inside, they found 28-year-old Benjamin Morrow dead and volatile chemicals inside the apartment.
Investigators call Morrow’s apartment a “homemade explosive laboratory and in addition to bomb-making equipment, they found literature about white supremacist groups in his bedroom.
According to the court documents, Morrow was found dead in front of the stove, which was on, and investigators testified they believe he was making explosive at the time of the blast. Thinking back to the explosion had some residents worried.
"Is it another or the same situation that happened before? Someone making bombs or things like that. We weren’t sure what was going on," nearby resident Natalie Irizarry said.
Neighbors believe the community will again come together to help the families in need.
“With the stuff that went on with [apartment] 109 with all those families losing everything and now we have this it’s crazy,” nearby resident Josh Drzonek said.
But, since the blast Drzonek said Beaver Dam just hasn’t been the same.
“Beaver Dam hasn’t been in the news very often all and all of a sudden last couple weeks we are on the map,” Drzonek said.
With the blast just about a month ago, resident Kristen Westlake said it still has some anxious.
“Definitely think that puts people on edge in small little Beaver Dam,” Westlake said.
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ORIGINAL:
BEAVER DAM, WI (CBS 58) --A fire in a 17 unit apartment building in Beaver Dam has sent five people to the hospital. According to a news release from the Dodge County Office of Emergency Management, the fire was reported around 6 AM Saturday in the Executive Apartments on 600 W Third Street in Beaver Dam. The City of Beaver Dam Fire Department and crews from 12 other departments are still on the scene of the fire.
According to the news release, the occupants of the apartment complex were evacuated by firefighters and police officers. Five of the residents needed to be taken to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries. The extent of their injuries is not known at this time. Because of heavy smoke in the area, residents along W Third and LaCrosse Streets were evacuated.
The residents of the apartment building were taken to the Family Assistance Center in Beaver Dam where they are being assisted by the Red Cross.
At a news conference Saturday morning, officials said the cause of the fire has not been determined. A second news conference is planned for this afternoon.