La Crosse man dies after fire

Fourth fire death for the year in La Crosse

A fire this week in La Crosse has led to the death of one man.  

The La Crosse Fire Department confirms that 60-year-old Stephen M. Pederson has died due to injuries sustained in the house fire on Johnson Street on Sunday. 

The fire department says the fire was caused by “improper discarding of smoking materials.”

In addition, “hoarding issues” apparently added fuel to the fire, creating a bigger blaze for firefighters to handle. Fire chief Gregg Cleveland has warned in the past about the piles of excess stuff that seems to wind up in many homes, contributing to fire hazards and complicating rescue operations.  

There was no working smoke detectors in the house. A statement from the fire department suggests a detector may have saved Pederson’s life.

Working smoke detectors are required in all homes. The fire department says 60% of all fire deaths happen in homes without working smoke detectors.  The department also says it can help with questions about smoke detectors, if needed.

Pederson’s is the fourth fire fatality this year in La Crosse, an unusually high number.

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