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Monroe man dies after home fire

MONROE — A Monroe man died early Sunday from injuries caused by a house fire at 2415 16th St. on the city’s east side.

Jeffrey R. Sullivan, 37, was taken to Monroe Clinic by Green County Emergency Medical Services but died from fire-related injuries shortly after his arrival, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said.

Kelley said officers responded to a 911 call around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. When officers arrived, the house was engulfed with flames.

An adult female, two juvenile males and a juvenile female were found outside the house, and officers were told there was a man still inside.

“Officers were unable to go into the residence due to heavy smoke and flames,” Kelley said. “Officers went around all sides of the house trying to find a way in or see the missing person.”

Kelley said officers had to wait for firefighters, who arrived at the scene about six minutes later. When firefighters entered the house and found Sullivan in a basement room, he was alive but unconscious, Kelley said.

Other occupants in the house at the time of the fire were Sullivan’s wife, Ruth R. Sullivan, 35, and the couple’s children, Julia B. Sullivan, 16; David A. Sullivan, 13, and Levi D. Sullivan, 12.

Monroe Deputy Fire Chief Lane Heins said Jeffrey Sullivan went downstairs to rescue his daughter, Julia, who also sustained fire-related injuries. Heins said Julia Sullivan was taken to Monroe Clinic with severe burns and then transferred by Med-Flight to University Hospital in Madison.

Dorothy Vogel, who lives next to the Sullivan home, remembered Jeffrey Sullivan as a “wonderful guy.”

“He helped me a lot of times,” she said Sunday morning as she stood on her porch and looked at the fire truck still parked in front of Sullivan’s house. “It’s the saddest thing.”

Kelley said the cause of the fire remains unknown and police and fire officials are continuing their investigation.