Two Students Killed in Wis. Off-Campus Housing Fire

Oct. 10, 2012
Fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire but do not believe it was suspicious in nature.

Two Stillwater-area young men who shared a long friendship and a love of music have died as the result of an apartment fire near the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Ross Livermore, 21, a computer science major, died in the fire, which was discovered about 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8. Livermore, a trombone player in the university marching band, was on an approved leave from the university, a university spokesman said.

Jacob Clarkson, 22, a computer science major, suffered serious burns and died Tuesday at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, said Christine Hill, hospital spokeswoman.

Their roommates, Garret Isakson and Casey Malan, both 21, escaped from the fire and were treated at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire and released. Isakson is majoring in marketing; Malan is an English major.

The four young men graduated from Stillwater Area High School in 2009. They lived in a four-bedroom apartment above a real estate business.

"These guys have been best friends -- all of them -- since the third grade," said Brian Carlisle, dean of students at UW-Eau Claire. "They're very close to each other. One of their friends said to me: 'If you know one of them, you know all of them.' "

All four were members of the high school's pep band; Livermore and Clarkson also were in the jazz band, said Carissa Keister, a spokeswoman for Stillwater Area Schools. Clarkson also was on the Nordic ski team, she said.

Arrangements for Livermore are being handled by Bradshaw Funeral Home of Stillwater. A woman who answered the phone at the Livermores' house in Stillwater Township said the family declined to comment.

The family of Jacob Clarkson released a statement through Hennepin County Medical Center. "Jacob enjoyed life and willed that others would have the chance for life, too," the statement said. "That's why we're honoring his decision to be an organ donor. We are so proud of him -- and we miss him more than words can say.

"Thanks to everyone who kept our family in their prayers during this difficult time. Please continue to pray for us and also for Ross' family as we grieve the loss of our sons."

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire but do not believe it was suspicious in nature, said Fire Chief Lyle Koerner.

An off-duty detective with the Eau Claire Police Department was on his way to work to catch up on some paperwork when he came around the corner and saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the building at 630 Water St., Koerner said.

The fire was called in at 5:47 a.m.; crews were on the scene by 5:51 a.m. Fire personnel entered the apartment and located two unconscious people, according to police reports.

It took several hours to battle the blaze; the two-story wood-frame building -- which also housed Clear Water Real Estate -- was declared a total loss. The building's property and content were valued at $162,000, said Deputy Fire Chief Scott Burkart.

Smoke detectors were present in the apartment, but fire officials are investigating whether they were working, Burkart said.

Burkart on Monday told the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram that fire inspections are not made on one- and two-family dwellings but are mandated twice a year for businesses. Burkart told the paper the department had no fire inspection reports on the real estate business, which has been at that location for several years.

"We're still checking into why there are no records on that," he told the Leader-Telegram.

A phone message left for the owner of Clear Water Real Estate was not immediately returned.

UW-Eau Claire administrators and students have been rallying to support Isakson and Malan, said Carlisle, the dean of students. The university has arranged for them to have access to clothing, food, housing, school supplies and textbooks, he said.

In addition, a three-day collection of food, clothing and money begins Wednesday, Oct. 10, at the Davies Center.

The university, whose mascot is the Blugolds, has only 11,200 students and is very close-knit, Carlisle said.

"We really consider ourselves a Blugolds family, and whenever any member of our family is hurt or passes away, we all hurt," he said.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

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