Officials investigating apartment fire in Racine as arson

RACINE (WITI) -- The Racine Fire Department is investigating an apartment fire that occurred Tuesday night, January 29th on Jacato Drive as arson. The fire displaced five families.

Officials say the fire broke out around 9 p.m in a 20 unit apartment complex and resulted in $450,000 in damage.

Firefighters battled rain on Tuesday night, and then sleet and snow on Wednesday morning as they fought the fire and then investigated at the scene.

No injuries were reported and the Red Cross assisted those who were displaced by fire.

"All of a sudden the alarms went off and they evacuated. They were all caught off guard. We have families -- we have some people who are single. We have a couple of pets and some with medical needs. To hear those stories of 'my gosh, what am I going to do now? What about my kids? They have to go to school tomorrow. I have pets. I don't have any family in the area.' It eats away at you," Bill Simmons with the Red Cross said.

Simmons was at the scene to help displaced families find hotels for the next few days and provide them with food, water and clothes, since many of their belongings are a total loss.

Police are urging anyone with information on this fire to call Racine Fire Department at 262-635-7915.