Smoke Detectors Not Working In Oconomowoc Fire That Killed 1: WLFD

OCONOMOWOC, WI — One person is dead after a fire in an Oconomowoc residence on Thursday, the Western Lakes Fire District announced. Another resident was assessed for smoke inhalation.

Officials said the fire was contained to a single unit in a condo complex and that smoke detectors were not working.

A woman was pronounced dead on the second floor of the condominium building at 985 Lake Country Court on Thursday night, fire officials said in a statement. Firefighters were dispatched around 11:46 p.m.

Oconomowoc police officers arrived before the fire department and tried to rescue the woman, but had to retreat from the smoke and heat, officials said. Fire crews extinguished the flames and found the woman dead upstairs. Fire officials said she died at the scene.

Investigators found that smoke detectors weren't working in the condo and didn't warn residents of the flames, officials said. The fire district has opened a joint investigation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Oconomowoc police and the Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office.

Correction: A previous article stated that fire officials said the woman died of smoke and fire. As of Friday, the medical examiner has not released an official cause of death.