The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has identified the victim of a fire Wednesday in Richland Center as Beverly J. Burns. The investigation is still ongoing, but preliminary autopsy results do not suggest any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. The fire happened at 20375 Tuckaway Valley Road in Richland Center.
Original Press Release from Richland County Sheriff’s Department:
WHERE Incident Happened: 20375 Tuckaway Valley Rd, Richland Center, WI 53581
What happened: Richland County Dispatch received a 911 call of a house fire at 20375 Tuckaway Valley Rd, Richland Center, WI 53581 from a neighbor. Responding Deputies arrived to a house fully engulfed and collapsed. A male party was located standing near the shed next to the house. The male party stated that he was able to escape through a main floor window, but believed his wife was still inside the residence. Due to the house being collapsed and fully engulfed in flames, deputies were unable to attempt rescue. Male party was transported to the Richland hospital via Richland EMS and Richland Fire worked on extinguishing the fire. Deputies spoke with male party at the hospital after he had been medically examined, and he stated that it was roughly 10:45pm when he noticed the fire and escaped out of the house. The male party stated he was unable to contact anyone at the time he escaped the residence. The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was contacted for a Fire Marshal to Investigate the scene and assist in the search of male parties wife. Emergency personnel were eventually able to conduct a search of the residence and located a deceased party.