Officials investigate fatal fire in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood

MILWAUKEE -- Investigators are looking into the cause of a fire in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood that killed a man in his 60s.

The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 3rd on East Hillcrest Ave. near Oklahoma and Kinnickinnic.

Fire officials say the man was trapped inside the home, and did not make it out, though others reportedly did escape the fire. There were no working smoke detectors in the home.

"The smoke was just billowing out of the door and the rooms upstairs," neighbor Ethlyn Roepke said.

The Milwaukee Fire Department will only say the fire appeared to start in a bedroom.

"I feel terrible that someone would die on a bedroom floor in a smoke-filled house by himself," Roepke said.

Neighbors told FOX6 News they are shaken up by what they saw Saturday night.

"It's sad because our neighborhood is pretty tight and this really caught the neighborhood off guard," neighbor Matt Shrek said.

"You see this, and to hear there was a loss of life involved with it really just makes you realize how precious and fragile life is," neighbor Nick Brehm said.

The name of the victim will be released after all family is notified.

Meanwhile, firefighters are urging folks to make sure there are working smoke detectors in their homes.

"Be sure to check the batteries. It's very important. If you don't do it for yourself, do it for your family. Make sure your smoke detectors are working properly," Milwaukee Fire Battalion Chief Spencer Vassel said.

Fire officials say the investigation into this incident is ongoing.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.