This story was updated to add new information.
The November fire in Howard that killed 26-year-old sisters Haley and Kayla Fritsch was caused by damaged gasoline containers in the home, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office announced June 15. No criminal charges will be filed, officials confirmed June 16.
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office said an investigation found that “the fire was initiated by a low-order explosion caused by gasoline being introduced into the home, which produced ignitable vapors.” Investigator found three damaged gasoline containers in the home in “locations that were inconsistent with standard household storage practices.”
At a June 16 news conference, Brown County Sgt. Jody Breider said gas was “spread in some way” in areas of the house, though investigators were not able to determine exactly how it was spread or how the gas was ignited. Breider did not say what the sisters’ manner of death was believed to be, stating that decision is the medical examiner’s responsibility.
Breider said surveillance footage showed the sisters purchasing empty gas cans at a local gas station and filling them up about 6 hours before the fire.
It was determined early on in the investigation that the incident was isolated and there was no danger to the general public, the release said. Investigators have verified the Fritsch sisters were the only occupants of the house at the time of the explosion and fire and authorities are confident no one else was involved in the incident.
At 2:31 a.m. Nov. 6, Brown County Dispatch began receiving 911 calls reporting that a house in the 1300 block of Rockwell Road in Howard was on fire and fully engulfed in flames, according to police. Howard Fire Rescue announced Nov. 7 that two people and multiple pets had died in the fire.
Haley and Kayla Fritsch were identified as the people killed in the fire. According to an obituary, Haley and Kayla graduated from West De Pere High School in 2017 and worked as daycare teachers at Creative Kids, 1861 Scheuring Road in Lawrence.
Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at vmbarrett@usatodayco.com or (920) 431-8314.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: No criminal charges will be filed in fire that killed 2 sisters
Reporting by Vivian Barrett, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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By Vivian Barrett, Green Bay Press-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
