Sheriff: "This is the First Time I've Seen a Home Literally Destroyed'

BURLINGTON — Two people are dead from a house explosion in the Town of Burlington on Saturday, after a house fire had initially been reported at a home on Ketterhagen Road.

When authorities arrived, around 3 p.m. they reported the house had been totally engulfed in flames, and that a large explosion had already taken place there.

“This is the first time I've seen a home literally destroyed, completely exploded and the loss of life,” Schmaling said according to a WISN 12 report. “This is tragic for the community and I'm trying desperately to get answers for them in a reasonable period of time.”

The investigation into this fire is ongoing and the circumstances surrounding it are suspicious in nature, according to a press release issued by the Racine County Sheriff's Office.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the home was occupied prior to the fire and investigators worked to account for the individuals known to reside at the home. Racine County Sheriff’s Investigators and Racine County Fire Task Force members were able to recover two individuals from the structure; each was determined to be deceased.

The Sheriff’s Office is continuing efforts to confirm information that a third individual was in the home at the time of the fire and ultimately identify and locate that individual.

Notification of family members by the Sheriff’s Office is pending based on obtaining positive identification of the victims. There is no additional information available at this time.

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