Donations continue to pour in for the Coats family of Monroe County, who lost four children to a house fire.
A Go Fund Me page set up Friday had an initial goal of $100,000, which was met in one day. As of Tuesday afternoon, some 1,900 donors had contributed nearly $150,000. The fundraising cap has now been increased to $175,000.
The Sparta Area Fire District has not officially confirmed the names of the victims and homeowners, but the Go Fund Me page and a Facebook page belonging to one of the parents identified them as the Coats family.
Fire crews arrived at 3679 Backtrail Road shortly after 9 p.m. last Thursday following a report of a house fire with people trapped upstairs and unable to escape. One child, who was on a lower floor, was able to flee and went to a neighbor’s home to make an emergency call.
Firefighters attempted to enter the home but were unable to due to intense heat, smoke and flames. The second floor collapsed during the fire and four children and pets were found deceased on the first floor once firefighters were able to conduct a search.
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Both parents and one additional child survived; it has not been made public if they were in the vicinity at the time of the fire.
Investigators from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the state fire marshal’s office are looking into the cause of the fire. No additional information has been released as of Tuesday afternoon.
To donate to the Go Fund Me account for the family, visit shorturl.at/rsvS1.
PHOTOS & VIDEO: Scenes from blaze in downtown La Crosse
Excavators work to clean up what is left of a building on the 300 block of S. Fourth Street after a Thursday morning fire ravaged the structure occupied by Indian Curry House and Bar.
Excavators work to clean up what is left of a building on the 300 block of S. Fourth Street Thursday after a morning fire ravaged the structure occupied by Indian Curry House and Bar.
The building occupied by the India Curry House and Bar on 300 block of Fourth Street South lay in ruin after a morning blaze Thursday.
Firefighters battle a blaze from boom trucks Thursday morning along Fourth Street near its corner with King Street downtown.
Ruble covers the 300 block of Fourth Street South in front of the India Curry House and Bar on Thursday as a morning fire is extinguished.
Firefighters battle a blaze from the ground Thursday morning along Fourth Street near its corner with King Street downtown.
Firefighters battle a blaze from boom trucks Thursday morning along Fourth Street near its corner with King Street downtown.
Firefighters battle a blaze engulfing multiple buildings Thursday morning along Fourth Street near its corner with King Street downtown.
Firefighters battle a blaze engulfing multiple buildings Thursday morning along Fourth Street near its corner with King Street downtown.
A firefighter climbs a boom ladder while working the scene of a blaze Thursday morning along Fourth Street near its corner with King Street downtown. The fire devastated the building occupied by India Curry House and Bar.
Firefighters battle a blaze engulfing multiple buildings from boom trucks and the ground Thursday morning along Fourth Street near its corner with King Street downtown.
Firefighters battle a blaze engulfing multiple buildings Thursday morning along Fourth Street near its corner with King Street downtown.
At the scene of the fire in downtown La Crosse.
Fire scene on South Fourth Street on Thursday morning in downtown La Crosse.
Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net.
Emily Pyrek
Community health reporter
Emily Pyrek covers health and human interest stories for the La Crosse Tribune.
