Heavy smoke & flames: Firefighters battle blaze, freezing conditions at home in Fox Point

FOX POINT -- Firefighters battled flames and bitterly cold temperatures as they worked to put out a house fire in Fox Point Monday morning, January 11th. The call came in around 6:17 a.m.

"Our crews arrived, found fire coming from multiple windows, heavy smoke coming from much of the residence," said Lt. Dan Tyk with North Shore Fire/Rescue.

Big flames and the bitter cold blast are a tough combination.

"They did have the windows shatter. That tells you there was high heat inside of there -- obviously with the temperature difference out here," said Lt. Tyk.

Two people escaped around 6 a.m. from the home at Bradley and Fairchild.

The neighbor who called 911 says they ran to the house barefoot, in the freezing temperatures.

"The occupant that was visiting the homeowner was sitting in front of a fire he had started this morning in a fireplace, and the blanket he had laying over him caught fire," said Lt. Tyk.

Officials say everyone in the home managed to get out safely. However, after exposure to the thick smoke, both occupants were sent to the hospital.

North Shore Fire/Rescue, along with extra crews from Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, teamed up to fight the blaze and cold. Paramedics were also on standby . Luckily, there were no frozen hose lines.

"Our drivers keep water circulating through the rigs, keep water moving, " said Lt. Tyk.

There is significant damage to both levels of the home -- smoke damage and water damage. It will be some time before the homeowner can return.

North Shore Fire/Rescue says a small dog and a cat did not survive the fire. A larger dog was able to escape.