Four dead after Oconto house fire

By: 
Warren Bluhm
Oconto County Times Herald Editor

OCONTO — Four people are dead after a house fire on a short residential street in the city of Oconto early Friday morning.

The Oconto fire and police departments were called to the two-story wood frame structure on Fabry Street just before 3 a.m. Fire Chief John Reed said in a news release that crews encountered “heavy fire conditions” when they arrived.

”During the suppression efforts, four individuals and one pet were found deceased in the fire scene,” Reed said.

Identification of the victims and notification of next of kin are pending.

The incident is contained, and there is no threat to the public, the release said. Reed told reporters at the scene that a news conference may be held later in the day.

Fabry Street was closed to traffic and police and fire personnel remained at the scene all morning. Shortly after noon an excavator was deployed to knock down part of the house to reach the smoldering blaze.

Oconto departments were being assisted by the state Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office and fire departments from Oconto Falls, Little River, Pensaukee and Bellevue.