MONROE - The cause of death and the cause of a fire that took the life of a Monroe man in the early-morning hours on Easter Sunday has not been determined.
Jeffrey R. Sullivan, 37, died at Monroe Clinic after he was rescued by Monroe firefighters from his home at 2415 16th St.
Sullivan woke shortly after midnight Sunday to his daughter's screams from her basement bedroom, said Art Sullivan, Jeffrey's father. He went downstairs and discovered the fire.
He brought his 16-year-old daughter, Julia, up the stairway and told her, "'I'm right behind you,'" Art Sullivan said, adding "(but) he didn't follow her up and we don't know why."
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said Sullivan died of fire-related injuries but the exact cause of death was not determined. Kelley said it is standard procedure to perform an autopsy after a death that is not by natural causes. Further tests are required to make a determination as to the cause of death, Kelley added.
Monroe Fire Department officials and the state fire marshal still are trying to determine what caused the fire.
The fire began in the basement around 12:30 a.m. There were no working smoke detectors in the residence, Kelley said.
Ruth Sullivan, 35, and her children, Juila, 16; David, 13; and Levi, 12, were outside the home when officers arrived. They told police officers Jeffrey Sullivan was still in the house.
Officers tried to find a way into the home but couldn't because of smoke and flames. Kelley said the officers walked around all sides of the house but weren't able to find a way to get inside.
Monroe firefighters arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and entered the home. They located Sullivan with a thermal imaging camera.
Deputy Fire Chief Lane Heins told NBC 15 News in Madison he was one of the first firefighters to arrive.
"When I came around the house I heard people screaming and I was informed by the Monroe Police Department that there was a possible subject unaccounted for and still possibly in the house," Heins said. "There was reports that he had gone down to rescue one of the individuals in the basement."
Heins said Sullivan was unconscious but breathing when he was located by firefighters.
Sullivan was taken to Monroe Clinic but later died from his injuries.
Julia was taken to Monroe Clinic with severe burns, then Med-Flighted to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. She is being treated for burns over half of her body, Art Sullivan said.
Jeffrey Sullivan will be remembered as a loving father and husband, Art Sullivan said. His son adopted Ruth's three biological children and every year the family celebrated those adoptions, which they did just last week, he said.
Sullivan was an area supervisor for McDonald's in Monroe, Brodhead, Evansville and Darlington and Stockton, Ill., since June 2007. Store owners Scott and Kris Oudinot, in a press release issued Monday, offered their sympathies to the Sullivan family.
"During the short time that we were privileged to work with Jeff, he proved himself to be an outstanding employee and a trusted friend. He will be sadly missed by the entire McDonald's family."
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jeffrey R. Sullivan, 37, died at Monroe Clinic after he was rescued by Monroe firefighters from his home at 2415 16th St.
Sullivan woke shortly after midnight Sunday to his daughter's screams from her basement bedroom, said Art Sullivan, Jeffrey's father. He went downstairs and discovered the fire.
He brought his 16-year-old daughter, Julia, up the stairway and told her, "'I'm right behind you,'" Art Sullivan said, adding "(but) he didn't follow her up and we don't know why."
Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said Sullivan died of fire-related injuries but the exact cause of death was not determined. Kelley said it is standard procedure to perform an autopsy after a death that is not by natural causes. Further tests are required to make a determination as to the cause of death, Kelley added.
Monroe Fire Department officials and the state fire marshal still are trying to determine what caused the fire.
The fire began in the basement around 12:30 a.m. There were no working smoke detectors in the residence, Kelley said.
Ruth Sullivan, 35, and her children, Juila, 16; David, 13; and Levi, 12, were outside the home when officers arrived. They told police officers Jeffrey Sullivan was still in the house.
Officers tried to find a way into the home but couldn't because of smoke and flames. Kelley said the officers walked around all sides of the house but weren't able to find a way to get inside.
Monroe firefighters arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and entered the home. They located Sullivan with a thermal imaging camera.
Deputy Fire Chief Lane Heins told NBC 15 News in Madison he was one of the first firefighters to arrive.
"When I came around the house I heard people screaming and I was informed by the Monroe Police Department that there was a possible subject unaccounted for and still possibly in the house," Heins said. "There was reports that he had gone down to rescue one of the individuals in the basement."
Heins said Sullivan was unconscious but breathing when he was located by firefighters.
Sullivan was taken to Monroe Clinic but later died from his injuries.
Julia was taken to Monroe Clinic with severe burns, then Med-Flighted to University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. She is being treated for burns over half of her body, Art Sullivan said.
Jeffrey Sullivan will be remembered as a loving father and husband, Art Sullivan said. His son adopted Ruth's three biological children and every year the family celebrated those adoptions, which they did just last week, he said.
Sullivan was an area supervisor for McDonald's in Monroe, Brodhead, Evansville and Darlington and Stockton, Ill., since June 2007. Store owners Scott and Kris Oudinot, in a press release issued Monday, offered their sympathies to the Sullivan family.
"During the short time that we were privileged to work with Jeff, he proved himself to be an outstanding employee and a trusted friend. He will be sadly missed by the entire McDonald's family."
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.