MONROE – Authorities are still investigating a large and fatal fire at a mobile home park on Tuesday in which a local man died and two others were displaced.
The fatality victim’s body, that of Rick Miles, 63 of Monroe, was been taken to Madison for autopsy, Monroe Fire officials said in a statement. Miles was a graduate of Juda High School and a U.S. Marine veteran. His obituary can be found on page A6.
The chief added that the cause of the fire, with total damage from the event estimated at $160,000, is still being investigated.
The initial call came in just before 11 a.m. at 2633 8th Avenue, Lot 17. When crews arrived, they found flames coming from the home and eventually located a body inside that they were not immediately able to identify.
Fire also spread to two vehicles parked at Lot 17. Those vehicles were destroyed, officials said.
“Fire extended into the residence of Lot 18 causing extensive damage and is considered a total loss,” said Monroe Fire Chief Bill Erb, in the statement. “No one was home at this residence at the time of the fire.”
Heat from the flames also damaged a building at Lot 16,but residents there were able to escape unharmed. No fire or emergency crews were reported to have been injured. Emergency crews left the scene at about 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
The probe into the fire’s cause is ongoing, Erb said, without elaborating on potential sources of the initial flames.
“The Monroe Fire Department would like to take the opportunity to stress the importance of having working smoke detectors in the home that are tested monthly and the batteries replaced every six months,” he said.
The Monroe Fire Department received extensive assistance from other agencies, the chief added. Those include the Orangeville Fire Department, Belleville Fire Department, Browntown Fire Department, Monroe Police, Green County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Fire Marshall’s office, Green County Coroner and Alliant Energy.
Services for Miles will be private.
Family Promise of Monroe is reportedly working to help the other residents who were displaced by the fire.