No working smoke detectors, man dies after house fire

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- 78-year-old Leo Roethig was pulled out of a burning duplex Thursday, April 17th and died Friday, April 18th.

The fire started a little after 5 p.m. Thursday evening in the upper unit of the building near 53rd and Nash in Milwaukee. Roethig was found on the floor -- and was then taken to a hospital.

"We did have one room well involved with fire on the second floor of the duplex," said Terry Lintonen, deputy chief of the Milwaukee Fire Department.

Firefighters say two unopened smoke detectors were found in his home.

"It's incredibly frustrating for us because we know that a smoke detector would've made the difference here as far as early detection," said Lintonen.

This is the second fire death in just over a week in Milwaukee. Fire officials say there were no working smoke detectors in the building.

"What we've been finding is, none of the residents that we've been responding to recently have had working smoke detectors," said Lintonen.

The fire department continues to repeat the message that a working smoke detector can mean the difference between life and death.

"The fact is, we've had two fatal fires in the last week, or week and half, and neither one of those people had to die," said Lintonen.

If you need a smoke detector, just call the Milwaukee Fire Department at 414-286-8980 -- and you may qualify for a free one.

Related stories: