3 children die in Wisconsin house fire, a 4th child escapes

Three children are in critical condition at a Sheboygan hospital after a fire broke out at their home. The 9-year-old child who escape the home was not physically hurt, police say. The 11-year-old girl then went back into the building to get a 10-year-old and 7-year-old out. Two children, ages 7 and 10-years-old, were still inside the burning home.

Firefighters entered the home and, with hampered viability due to heavy smoke and flames, used heat infrared cameras to located and remove three children from the home.

The three were taken to St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan for more treatment and, Riffel says, medical helicopters were on standby to transport them elsewhere if need be. “The 9-year-old did, believing the others were following”, Riffel said.

Officials say their parents were not home at the time of the fire.

Picture courtesy WHBL, Sheboygan. Also, names of those killed will be released once family members are notified first. There are unconfirmed reports that they were at a bible study, Riffel said. “Our honest thoughts and prayers are with them in this most hard time”.

The American Red Cross is assisting the family.

He adds Sheboygan Falls Police officers and firefighters were dispatched to the scene within minutes, saying several firefighters were at the fire department headquarters when the call came in.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the 2 alarm fire. Two others are in critical condition.

One firefighter was treated for minor smoke inhalation. The Director of Public Safety told our affiliate there will be a press briefing at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.