Milwaukee apartment fire near 77th and Green Tree, several people rescued
8 rescued from Milwaukee apartment fire
Firefighters had to rescue several people from an apartment fire in Milwaukee early Sunday morning, Feb. 1.
MILWAUKEE - Firefighters had to rescue several people from an apartment fire in Milwaukee early Sunday morning, Feb. 1.
Apartment fire
What we know:
According to the Milwaukee Fire Department, firefighters responded to the two-story, eight-unit apartment near 77th and Green Tree and found a fire in the first floor common hallway of the building, with people hanging out of the second story windows.
More fire units were requested to the scene, including units from the North Shore Fire Department and the Wauwatosa Fire Department.
Scene outside the apartment on 77th Street near Green Tree
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The fire in the first floor hallway made exiting the building through that door impossible. Milwaukee fire crews rescued several people via ladders from their second story windows.
Four people were taken to the hospital, with two suffering broken bones from jumping.
One firefighter suffered minor burn injuries during the rescue.
The apartment building did not have sprinklers.
An MCTS bus was also requested and came to the scene to provide temporary shelter to those that were out in the cold.
The building is currently uninhabitable.
Neighbors react
Local perspective:
Dramatic video from the scene shows a baby being lowered from a window as firefighters worked to rescue residents.
"Oh, my goodness, it was chaotic," said Angelica Trevino, a neighbor. "I heard popping and I thought it was gunshots."
Fire officials said people inside the building had no option but to jump or climb out of windows to escape the smoke and flames.
"I saw one person, a few people, jump from the window," said Trevino.
Lipski said the outcome could have been less severe if the building had been equipped with sprinklers.
Property records show the building was constructed in 1961, before a 1974 state law requiring sprinklers in apartment buildings.
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Lipski said he has pushed for legislation to retroactively require sprinklers in older buildings, calling the issue urgent as aging properties continue to pose risks.
"I hope I'm wrong, but I fear that it is just going to keep getting worse, because these buildings are not getting younger," said Lipski.
He said while there has been legislative support for the idea, no changes have been made so far.
"Fire departments across the state and most definitely the Milwaukee Fire Department will be left to drag people out of apartment buildings and rescue them from windows," said Lipski, Milwaukee fire chief.
Lipski said he hopes lawmakers continue efforts to require sprinklers in older apartment buildings.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Editor's Note
What we know:
An earlier version of this story said no firefighters were injured and that several people were transported to the hospital, peers information from MFD.
MFD Fire Chief Aaron Lipski provided new information on his X account later in the day.
The Source: The Milwaukee Fire Department sent FOX6 the information. MFD Fire chief Aaron Lipski posted additional information on his X account.