'It's unbelievable for me:' Man, woman killed in duplex fire near 14th and Capitol

Man, woman killed in duplex fire near 14th and Capitol

MILWAUKEE -- Two people were killed in a duplex fire near 14th and Capitol Saturday morning, Oct. 12.

Officials with the Milwaukee Fire Department said five people were in the home at the time, and two were pronounced dead at the scene.

Battalion Chief Brian Gardner said the victims included one woman and one man.

The fire began around 6 a.m. Saturday and fire crews arrived around 6:20 a.m. This, after a call came in regarding people having "electrical trouble."

"They responded," said Gardner. "They investigated. They could not find anything. They checked the basement and the first floor. They moved up to the second floor, and when they opened the door, they found heavy smoke conditions with light heat."

Three people were on the first level of the home, and two were on the second level.

"Two adults have been pulled from the building, and have been pronounced dead -- one male and one female," said Gardner.

Earl McDougle

Looking at the outside of the home, it was a bit difficult to tell that a fire happened there, but FOX6's cameras did capture broken glass and boarded windows.

Relatives said the victims moved in less than a week prior.

"She cared for a lot," said Earl McDougle. "She did a lot, but she cared a lot for anybody. She would let anybody in her home. She would take care of anybody. That's the type of woman she was, and for her to be gone right now, it's really unbelievable for me right now."

Patricia Colston

McDougle, who created a GoFundMe.com account for his "auntie," Patricia Colston, said she was trying to get to the back door, but couldn't get it open. He said the man died in the front of the home.

The medical examiner confirmed the identifies of the victims: Patricia Colston, 53, and Clarence Murrell, 60.

"I'm feeling weak because it's like, just yesterday me and my auntie was playing spades, having fun, drinking, having a good day," said McDougle. "If you got an auntie like mine, you better cherish them. You never know when they're going to leave."

Fire near 14th and Capitol