Fire at college kills three students, including Chaska woman

MENOMONIE, Wis.  — A fire swept through a two-story house near the University of Wisconsin-Stout campus early Saturday, killing three students, including a Chaska woman, the Associated Press is reporting.

Firefighters arrived five minutes after the 3:32 a.m. call to find moderate smoke coming from the basement, first floor and second floor of the white duplex, university spokesman Doug Mell said. Rescuers found two women and a man in second floor bedrooms, authorities said. All three were taken to a hospital where they were pronounced dead.

The university identified the victims as April C. Englund, 21, of West St. Paul, Amanda Jean Rief, 20, of Chaska, and Scott A. Hams, 23, of Hayward, Wis.

Authorities said all three appeared to have died of smoke inhalation. They do not suspect foul play.

Englund was the only resident of the front unit of the white house in a row of well-kept properties blocks away from campus. The other two victims — Rief and Hams — were sleeping over because Englund's roommates left town, Englund's father and authorities said.

The school of 8,400 students is located about 70 miles east of Minneapolis