VILLAGE OF RAYMOND, Wis. — A mother died and her child was rescued after a house fire in the Village of Raymond Monday afternoon.
38-year-old Jenna Zuehlke of Milwaukee and the family dog died at the home on 108th St. near 5 Mile Road.
Racine County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched on Dec. 1 around 2:50 p.m. where they immediately saw smoke coming from the home.
A deputy first tried to enter the home via the attached garage, where he heard a child crying. The deputy couldn’t see flames but encountered heavy smoke filling the residence from the floor to ceiling.
Body camera footage shows when the deputy returns to the front entry, where a Raymond fire chief officer was attempting to push through the smoke to reach the girl. As the chief officer was pulled back out of the smoke, the deputy heard continued crying coming from basement stairs.
The deputy entered the heavy smoke again and retrieved the girl. She was carried outside and turned over to a Town of Norway police officer. He tried to re-enter the home again but was unable to rescue Zuehlke due to the dense smoke.
The sheriff’s office said fire fighters equipped with full protective gear and breathing apparatus then pulled Zuehlke from the house. Despite attempts to resuscitate her, she died at the scene.
“These first responders displayed extraordinary courage under life-threatening conditions,” Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said. “Their actions absolutely saved a little girl’s life. Lastly, we extend our deepest condolences to the Zuehlke family.”
The sheriff’s office was initially investigating the fire as a potential criminal matter. The latest news release said it doesn’t appear to be a criminal incident.
