Fatal House Fire
From the Portage County Sheriff’s Office
On Friday, November 16, 2012, at approximately 7:07 a.m., the Portage County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call of a mobile home that was on fire at 5955 Birch Drive, Town of Plover. The caller, Mr. Michael Johnson of Plover, had seen the smoke as he was driving on State Highway 54. Mr. Johnson drove into the trailer park and was unable to make entry into the home due to the heat and smoke. He then alerted neighbors in the adjoining homes of the fire.
The Plover Fire/EMS Department, Sheriff’s deputies, and the Portage County Ambulance Service responded to the scene. They were later assisted by the Whiting Fire and Rescue, Stockton Fire, and Bancroft-Pine Grove Fire Departments, as well as officials from the Town of Plover.
The first deputy arrived on scene at 7:09 a.m. and found the trailer fully engulfed by flames.
Neighbors reported to the officer that there was a substantial likelihood of an individual still in the home. The first fire apparatus arrived on scene at 7:19 a.m. and immediately began to battle the flames, as well as protect the neighboring trailers from the spreading fire.
At approximately 8:29 a.m., fire crews announced that they had discovered the body of a deceased person inside of the home. The Portage County Coroner was summed to the scene of the fire and took custody of the victim. The identity of the victim is not being released until positive identification can be made.
The Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Offices transported the decedent to Madison for a forensic autopsy and identification. The cause of the fire is currently undetermined, and remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office and the Portage County Fire Investigation Task Force.