WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |La Crosse FD releases more information on Redfield St. fatal fire
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LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) - The La Crosse Fire Department releases more information on the fire that killed one man at a home on Redfield St. late Sunday night.
Here are the contents of that release:
March 2, 2010
News Media Press Release for the fire at 1030-32 Redfield Street
On Sunday February 28, 2010 at 23:55 hours, the La Crosse Fire Department responded to a reported basement fire at 1032 Redfield Street with one resident possibly trapped in the structure. First arriving units arrived on scene at 23:59 hours made an aggressive fire attack, and contained the fire to the basement. Search and rescue efforts were simultaneously conducted resulting in the rescue of a male individual from the basement. The victim, James A. Oestreich, was removed from the structure and subsequently died of his injuries.
During fire fighting operations, it was found that there were a number of items in the basement indicating that a potential meth lab was in operation. The La Crosse Police Department was notified of both the fire victim and the potential meth lab. The scene was secured along with the notification to the Department of Justice (DOJ) asking for their assistance.
Three members of the DOJ arrived on scene and were updated on the events surrounding the incident. A member of the DOJ, along with fire department personnel, entered the structure to make a positive identification of a meth lab operation. It was determined by DOJ personnel that the items found in the structure did not indicate a meth lab operation. During the investigation DOJ personnel found a number of containers that appeared to be volatile chemical mixtures. Some of the containers were marked whereas others were unmarked.
Given the information from the DOJ personnel and a potential explosion event, the La Crosse Fire and Police Command Center personnel requested the assistance of the Dane County Sheriff's Bomb Squad (DCBS). As a matter of protocol, the 54th Civil Support Team (CST) assisted the (DCBS).
The above agencies arrived on scene and their personnel were updated on the events surrounding the incident. Because of a potential explosion event, a safety zone was implemented whereby people in neighboring houses were asked to leave their residence as a precaution. La Crosse Police personnel assisted in the notification and enforcement of the safety zone. A plan was put in place where both La Crosse Fire Department Hazardous Materials and CST personnel would enter the structure to assess and identify the unmarked containers along with any other items that could pose a hazard.
The two agencies entered the structure and carried out their tasks. It was determined by both agencies that a number of the containers were identified as volatile chemical mixtures and that a potential explosion event was possible.
It was decided by the Incident Command Center that La Crosse Fire Department, CST and DCBS personnel would re-enter the structure to remove the containers that were identified as volatile chemical mixtures. The containers were removed from the structure and placed in the Blast Containment Unit brought in by the EOD.
Lastly La Crosse Fire Department and CST personnel re-entered the structure to meter the air quality and identify any remaining potential life threatening hazards. The air quality was found in the safe range and no other life threatening hazards were found. At that time the La Crosse Fire and Police Investigators were allowed to enter the structure to perform their respective investigations.
The La Crosse Fire Department Investigation Bureau performed its investigation for an origin and cause of the fire. The fire originated in the basement of the structure near the floor area in the center of the north room. The cause of the fire is ruled accidental. A container with a lid containing volatile chemicals was opened by the deceased. The combination of the air and a nearby heat source ignited the volatile chemicals producing an explosion and subsequent fire.
The La Crosse Fire Department reminds all citizens to remember the following fire prevention and fire safety issues.
The La Crosse Fire Department Fire Prevention and Arson Bureau want to thank the following agencies for their assistance during the course of this fire.
Xcel Energy Red Cross
Tri-State Ambulance Emergency Dispatch/County Medical Examiner
La Crosse Police Department Department of Justice (DOJ)
La Crosse Street Department 54th Civil Support Team (CST)
Dane County Sheriff's Bomb Squad (DCBS) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
