Authorities: 4 people die in fire at Wisconsin bar; blaze destroys building

4 people die in fire at Wis. bar, authorities say

MADISON, Wis. — Authorities say four people have died when a fire broke out at a Wisconsin building that housed a bar and apartments.

Lafayette County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy John Reichling says the blaze started at the Silver Dollar Saloon in Blanchardville around 3:20 a.m. Monday. The bar was destroyed.

Blanchardville police says in a statement that the bar’s proprietors, 45-year-old Daniel Hardekopf and 44-year-old Jelayne L. Hughes, died. Twenty-three-year-old Cody D. Olson and 34-year-old Brian K. Monte also were killed in the fire.

The statement says Olson and Monte were apparently visiting apartments above the bar. It referred questions to the state Justice Department spokesman, who said he had no further details.

Blanchardville is 30 miles southwest of Madison.