Milwaukee apartment fire: 1 dead, others injured at 1st and Layton

MILWAUKEE - One person died, and others were injured, in a Milwaukee apartment fire on Saturday morning, Nov. 8.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office has since identified the victim as 75-year-old Paul Blake of Milwaukee.

1st and Layton

What they're saying:

It happened at 1st and Layton, just northwest of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, around 6:30 a.m. The Milwaukee Fire Department said there was a report of people trapped, and people had to be rescued from the building.

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"I didn't know if I was dreaming or something," said resident Amor Maqusi. "The smoke just kept getting more dark and more unhealthy, and I couldn’t breathe. Then, I go back through my apartment, and I opened the window, and then I jumped, then I called 911."

The fire was brought under control and is under investigation. The Milwaukee Police Department said the fire does not appear to be suspicious.

Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski later confirmed one person died, and two people were transported to area hospitals. One of those people was taken to a hospital with substantial burn injuries.

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Milwaukee police said the person who died is 75 years old. Bill Ristic, a maintenance manager, described that person as kind.

"We try to keep our building where nobody would get hurt. It's a very unfortunate day for us," he said.

Push for sprinklers

What they're saying:

Lipski also took the time to reiterate the importance of having sprinklers in apartment buildings. He has estimated 70–80% of the city's apartments were built before 1974, when sprinklers became required. 

The building at 1st and Layton, like many others, did not have a sprinkler system installed as it was exempted and "grandfathered in" due to its age. It was built in 1964.

"There is no such thing as, ‘Well, we want affordable housing and sprinklers would tip the scales,'" said Lipski What they think of you is your life is less important than the profit to be had from a rental unit. That is what they think, you make no mistake, and I’m done mincing words on it. We have too many dead people from this now, so that’s how I feel."

Dig deeper:

Legislation was recently introduced that would provide a funding source for landlords to refit older apartment buildings with sprinklers. It was a direct response to an apartment fire that killed five people and forced dozens more from their homes on Mother's Day.

The legislation includes three bills. The first allows municipalities to pass their own ordinances to require sprinklers be installed in buildings, even those built before 1974. The second creates a $10 million grant program to help landlords cover some of those costs. The third directs a state agency to conduct a statewide audit of all sprinkler systems to assist local fire departments.

"People living in these apartments don't get to choose whether their apartments have modern fire protection. They just pay their rent in the places that they can afford to live and hope for the best," said State Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee). "Hoping for the best isn't good enough."

A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) told FOX6 News the bills may look great on the surface but added they might drive up the cost of housing. Vos is a landlord himself.

The bills have yet to reach a committee.

Red Cross responding

What we know:

The apartment building's owner did not want to speak on camera but said it will take months to restore. 

In the meantime, the American Red Cross was on scene and assisting residents. Twenty apartment units were impacted, and 14 people were displaced – with the potential for more people.

A shelter is being opened at Holler Park for those impacted.

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