Second Body Recovered from Butch’s Fire Scene

Crews began demolishing the walls on Wednesday to create a safer environment for the search. The second body has now been recovered. Photo by Mike Brisson.

The body of a second deceased male was recovered from the Butch’s Bar fire scene, according to a release from the Sturgeon Bay Police Department.

The remains will be transported to Madison for a positive identification. 

The body of the first victim had been recovered on Tuesday. The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the names of the deceased once a positive identification is made and all next of kin have been notified. 

The razing of the unstable walls had begun on Wednesday to create a safer environment for the search. That demolition will now be completed and the streets reopened once the debris and ice have been cleared. 

If the yellow tape and barricades are up, the streets surrounding the scene remain closed until they are deemed safe for travel.

The two deceased people were renters on the second floor of the structure. Of the 20 rooms within the building, nine had been occupied. All but the two escaped. One of those who made it out of the building was transported to the hospital. 

The cause of the fire that broke out during the early morning hours of Feb. 22 remains unknown.

Assistant Chief of Police Dan Brinkman so no further information concerning the deceased victims would be released and no additional media interviews granted at this time.