We have new information about a fire that killed three UW-Stout students.

Investigators met Monday morning. Then Monday afternoon Stout students got an e-mail telling them how their classmates died.

It's been almost a month since flames shot out of a home just blocks from UW-Stout. The police tape is still a reminder of three lives lost.

"Everyone is trying to deal with it. It's still pretty upsetting," one student says.

21-year-old April Englund, 23-year-old Scott Hams, and 20-year-old Amanda Rief were in three upstairs bedrooms when firefighters found them in the early morning hours of April 5.

"It was a tragic accident," Menomonie Fire Chief Jack Baus tells us.

Monday, Chief Baus said the fire started on a love seat in a first floor living room. Investigators don't know exactly what sparked the fire, but say there were used cigarettes in the room. An autopsy showed all three students died of smoke inhalation.

"It's a small community. Everyone was aware of this. Our thoughts are with the family. But, everyone has an interest, so we want to get the information out there, provide some closure, and do whatever we can," Baus says.

"A lot of people are interested in the cause. We’re glad the investigators took their time and worked very meticulously on it. I think this will start to help us get things back to normal on campus. It's been really, really hard," says Doug Mell with UW-Stout.

Students on campus tell us they pulled together to get through the past couple weeks. They say finding out what happened helps them move forward.

"I think it will help a lot of people cope and get closure."

"It helps people be able to get through it faster."

"It helps people who maybe weren't able to get to the funeral to bring a closure.”

Chief Baus says preliminary information shows all three students had been drinking alcohol. Investigators say it's unclear what role alcohol played in their decision-making. They're still waiting for tests that will show the student's blood alcohol levels when they died.

PRESS RELEASE

On Saturday, April 5, at 3:32 a.m., Menomonie Police and Fire Departments were alerted to smoke in the area of 1415 8th St. in the city of Menomonie. Units from the Menomonie Police Department were first to arrive at the scene, and discovered no visible fire, but heavy smoke at the scene. Menomonie Fire Department arrived and entered the structure and began fire suppression and rescue efforts. During the rescue efforts, the Menomonie Fire Department discovered the bodies of 23-year-old Scott Hams, 21-year-old April Englund and 20-year-old Amanda Rief. They were transported to Red Cedar Medical Center and subsequently pronounced dead after failed resuscitation efforts.

In Saturday, April 5, the Menomonie Police and Fire Departments, with the assistance of the State of Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation Arson Bureau began an investigation into the event. Subsequent investigation revealed that the fire originated in the living room area, primarily related to a love seat that was present. The ignition source for the fire is undetermined. Discovered in the living room area were used cigarettes; however, their role in the ignition of the fire could not be determined. The Menomonie Police Department conducted numerous interviews to re-create the activities prior to the fire.

The Dunn County Medical Examiner’s Office has determined that the three individuals died as a result of smoke inhalation. Preliminary information shows that all three had been consuming alcoholic beverages. Final blood alcohol levels are pending tests from the State Hygiene Lab. It is undetermined what role alcohol had in their decision-making abilities. Based on the information presently available, it is believed that this tragic event was the result of an accident.