Ascent Milwaukee apartment arson attempt, video released

New video from Ascent apartment arson attempt

A man's alleged attempt to light his downtown Milwaukee apartment on fire this summer was captured on video.

MILWAUKEE - A man's alleged attempt to light his downtown Milwaukee apartment on fire this summer was captured on video.

Enrique Torres, 39, was arrested and charged in June for attempted arson of a building.

Surveillance video showed Torres flailing his arms and trying to speak to fellow residents. Prosecutors said people in the building heard him say things like "get out, get out, get out" and "everything is gonna burn, burn, burn."

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At the Ascent luxury apartment building near Van Buren and Kilbourn, smoke was in the air on the 24th floor when the Milwaukee Fire Department arrived. Prosecutors said Torres put three aerosol cans in his oven before leaving his apartment.

"He’s under the influence of something and ended up putting some fire prone chemicals inside his oven and tried to cause a fire," an officer said in bodycam video.

Enrique Torres

Almost 300 people live at the Ascent luxury apartments, which prosecutors said is known as the "largest wooden structure in the world." No one was hurt. A property manager told FOX6 News Monday that the Milwaukee fire chief commended the property for the safety measures it had in place.

While no fire was actually started, the incident caused roughly $2,000 in smoke damage. Torres is facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He pleaded not guilty in August.