Three found dead in early morning house fire in Waukesha

An early morning fire killed three people, injured three others and substantially damaged a town of Waukesha home on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

The Waukesha County Sheriff's Department announced the deaths Tuesday afternoon in an updated news release. 

Police did not identify the victims, but said they were an adult and two adolescents.

Thirteen fire departments responded to the fire at S15 W22398 Arcadian Ave. in the town of Waukesha at 3:13 a.m. One 80-year-old woman and a 9-year-old boy were evacuated from the residence and required medical treatment. A sheriff's deputy also suffered first-degree burns while searching the home and was treated at the hospital.

The fire, which was reported to the Waukesha County Communications Center by a neighbor who called 911, required road closures as town firefighters battled the blaze and was still requiring detours as of Tuesday afternoon.

In the updated release, the sheriff''s department said traffic on Highway 59 would continue to be restricted between North Springdale Road and Highway 164. The closure is expected to last through the evening commute.

Motorists were asked to use North Barker Road and Highway 164 as alternate routes.

Waukesha County tax records list the home as owned by Gregory R. Horning.

Capt. Marc R. Moonen of the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department said the fire is under investigation.

The Town of Waukesha Fire Department Command requested fire investigation from the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice — Division of Criminal Investigation State Fire Marshal's Office. The initial cause of the fire is still undetermined.

Additional assistance was requested from the town of Brookfield, Wales Genesee, city of Waukesha, city of Pewaukee, city of New Berlin, village of North Prairie, village of Big Bend, village of Elm Grove, Mukwonago, town of Vernon, Western Lakes, and city of Brookfield fire departments and the city of Waukesha Police Department.