Carl Zahn Jr – The Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified Carl Zahn Jr., a 61-year-old McFarland resident, as the man who died following an apartment fire last month. The exact cause and manner of his death are still under investigation.
Zahn was pronounced dead on December 29, 2024, with a forensic examination taking place the following day on December 30. Additional testing is ongoing to determine more details surrounding his death.
According to McFarland Fire and Rescue, emergency responders were called to a four-unit apartment building on the 5000 block of Paulson Court around 10 a.m. A resident had reported smelling smoke in the building. Upon arrival, officials discovered smoke in the reporting resident’s apartment and an active fire in the adjacent unit.
As firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, they found Zahn, who had already passed away. The McFarland Police Department, alongside the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office, is continuing their investigation into the circumstances of Zahn’s death.
This tragic incident has left the community seeking answers as authorities work diligently to uncover the cause of the fire and the factors that led to Zahn’s untimely death.