BLUE RIVER - Three people have died from injuries sustained in a house fire in Blue River early Sunday morning.

At approximately 3:40 a.m. the Grant County Dispatch received a call of smoke coming from the residence at 105 Jay Street in the Village of Blue River, across the street from the Cenex station.

Blue River Fire and EMS responded to the scene, along with deputies from Grant and Richland County, as well as mutual aid and officers from Boscobel, Muscoda, and Fennimore. In all, seven ambulances were called to the scene, one from Blue River, two from Fennimore, two from Muscoda and two from Boscobel, one of which broke down enroute.

Firefighters were able to recover three adults and three children from the house fire and they were immediately transported to area hospitals. In all, three Medflight helicopters were called to the scene.

Jenny Jo Moe, 37, and Gilbert Moe, 38, were able to be treated and released from the hospital.

Francis Hurley, 15, was transferred to UW Hospital in Madison, where he remains in critical condition. His sister, Barbara Hurley, 14, was airlifted to a hospital in Milwaukee. Both were popular students at Boscobel High School.

Frederick Hurley, 12, was pronounced dead by the scene by the Grant County Coroner. A family friend who was staying at the house, Andrew Brown, 33, also died at the scene.

A family member reported Monday morning that Barbara Hurley was still in critical condition and it was unclear if she would survive. It was later reported by the Grant County Sheriff’s Department that Barbara too succumbed to her injuries.

Fire Marshals from the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation responded to the scene to assist with the investigation. Other agencies assisting at the scene were the Blue River Fire Department, Boscobel Fire Department, Muscoda Fire Department, Blue River EMS, Boscobel EMS, Boscobel Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Grant County Coroner’s Office and the Grant County Highway Department. The Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to the family and the fire remains under investigation. 

The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank the Cenex Station in Blue River for assisting the first responders with food and hot drinks. 

The Boscobel School District currently has a crisis intervention team set up in the school gym during the week to assist fellow students through their emotions with this tragedy. Classes were canceled Tuesday due to a snow emergency.

The Hurley children have suffered tragedy before. They lost their father, Franklin Hurley, when he was killed in a car crash on Highway 23 near Dodgeville in October 2018 at the age of 47.

All three of the Hurley children were wrestlers and the Boscobel Youth Wrestling Club is collecting donations to assist the family. For more information or to donate, contact Todd Miller at 485-0717.

A Go Fund Me has been started for the family by a friend. There has been an outpouring of support, with nearly $19,000 raised out of the $50,000 goal and 348 individuals donating at the time of this story. Messages of love, sympathy and support also fill the page.  To donate to the fund go to www.gofundme.com/help-jenny-jo-and-her-family