Name released of 19-year-old woman who died in Reedsburg house fire

REEDSBURG, Wis. (WMTV) – The woman pulled from a house fire in Reedsburg earlier this week succumbed to her injuries, the Sauk Co. coroner confirmed Thursday afternoon.

The coroner’s office reported Paige Ruddy died on Wednesday, a day after the early morning fire that trapped her on the second floor of the house, in the 200 block of W. 2nd Street.

Her aunt Holly described Ruddy, 19, as “this presence you couldn’t explain that you always needed in your life.”

Ruddy was set to be married and was about to enroll in a Vet Tech program at Madison Area Technical College in the fall.

Reedsburg Fire Dept. Chief Craig Douglas explained Ruddy, 19, could not get through the smoke to safety and firefighters smashed through a window to reach her. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she later died, the coroner added, noting his preliminary investigation indicated she died from smoke inhalation.

Three other people who were in the home at the time did escape before firefighters arrived shortly before 4 a.m.

On Wednesday, Douglas indicated foul play is not suspected, however the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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