3 dead in Milwaukee fire near 33rd and Fairmount
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee fire left three people dead near 33rd and Fairmount on Wednesday morning, March 29.
Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said crews from MFD and North Shore Fire/Rescue were dispatched to the scene around 4:30 a.m. The first crews arrived within three minutes and found the basement and first floor engulfed in flames.
"They had heavy, heavy fire blowing out of the basement window of the home," Lipski said. "They immediately began a fire attack."
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The fire started in the basement near the furnace and water heater. Lipski described the amount of fire as "immense," and said the structure was collapsing as crews tried to simultaneously extinguish the flames and conduct rescue operations.
"The first floor was falling into the basement, the second floor was falling into the first floor," he said.
33rd and Fairmount fire, Milwaukee
Three men – ages 83, 57 and 53 – were pronounced dead at the scene.
"It’s our belief that this is a father and two sons," said Lipski.
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"There are no words for this. Tragic," said neighbor Mercedes Holloway.
Lipski said firefighters found one smoke detector, which did not appear to be operational. The building was deemed a total loss and will be razed. There was no indication of anything suspicious.
Firefighters went door to door around the neighborhood offering free smoke detectors; MFD provides free smoke alarms and installation to city residents – call 414-286-8980.
"The very best rescue that we can have is the one that doesn’t need to occur," Lipski said.
FOX6 News checked the property records, which showed more than two dozen citations for garbage and having too many vehicles parked on grassy areas – but none for issues inside the home. Lipski said the fire department did not find any electrical code violations.
Editor's note: On March 30, after this story originally aired on FOX6 News, the medical examiner's office identified the deceased as Ernest Ray Sr., Ernest Ray Jr. and Erwin Ray.