"You don't expect to lose your 17-year-old friends," says a Chippewa Falls High School student.

The incoming senior class of Chippewa Falls High School has lost two students in the past week. First, Zach Lato, who drowned in the Chippewa River—and now Evan Bresina, who died in a cabin fire this weekend.

"I don't get why it's all the good people,” says a girl who knew them both.

His friends were too upset to go on camera, but describe Evan as a fun-loving kid, who liked hanging out at the skate park in Chippewa Falls, and could always make others laugh.

"Evan was amazing and he could smile when he wanted to cry. He could make you smile when you wanted to cry,” she says.

But while friends and family grieve, investigators are working to figure out what led to his death. Captain Eugene Gutsch of the Chippewa County Sheriffs Department says the teens who were at the cabin consumed alcohol the night before the fire.

"Certainly it's part of our concern but it is premature to assign responsibility to anyone or any group of people at this time,” says Gutsch.

Gutsch says when his department has to respond to deaths, especially two teens in such a short period of time, it's hard to take.

"Even though it's our job, tragic events do take a toll on every individual that is exposed to them," says Gutsch.

Now left to carry on without another classmate, friends say they've learned a tough lesson.

"Realize that we're not invincible, that things happen to us. We're just teenagers. Little things can take our lives,” one friend says. “Swimming, being at a house party. Things like that can happen, and it's really hard."

Captain Gutsch says the State Fire Marshall's office is now investigating the cause of the fire. He says his department hopes to have a preliminary report, including Evan Bresina's autopsy results, by the end of the week.