Smoke killed Beloit Township couple Wednesday

BELOIT TOWNSHIP — Preliminary autopsy reports indicate carbon monoxide killed two people in a fire reported Wednesday night in Beloit Township.

Officials could not determine the cause of a house fire at 2474 Dewey Ave. that killed Carol J. Brom and Paul A. Brom. Investigators could not rule out that the cause was electrical, Lt. Al Cass with the Town of Beloit Fire Department said.

The fire started in the lower level of the home near a loveseat, Cass said.

Fire fighters did not find working smoke detectors in the home, Cass said.

Carol Brom was taken to Beloit Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead, Chief Dennis Ahrens said.

Fire fighters found Paul Brom dead in the home.

The couple were in rooms on the top floor of their tri-level home, Cass said.

The house was a total loss, Cass said. Damage was estimated at $150,000 for the building and $50,000 for the contents, he said.

Smoke was so thick it forced crews to fight the fire from outside the home, said Rich Tippelt, public information officer of the Town of Beloit Fire Department.

Neighbors told The Janesville Gazette the Broms recently had remodeled their home because of water damage from an air conditioner.

Fire fighters were able to definitely determine the cause of another Beloit Township fire reported Thursday morning.

Lightning struck a home at 872 Erin Circle. A man was home with his dog, but both got out of the house safely, Cass said.

The fire caused $150,000 in damage to the two-story, single family home, Cass said. Damage to contents was estimated at $30,000, he said.

The house was less than 10 years old, he said.