Milwaukee hotel fire, 1 person found dead in room
MILWAUKEE - A man is dead after a fire at a hotel on Milwaukee’s northwest side on Saturday morning, Nov. 16.
"It was flames, and it was smoke everywhere," said Tereal Hogan. "I stay on the third floor. And it was smoke all the way up on the third floor."
Fire led to sheer panic on Saturday morning.
The emergency call for a fire at the Norwood Inn & Suites on Silver Spring came in before 6 a.m.
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Fire at Norwood Inn and Suites
Around four minutes later, fire crews arrived.
"And found a lighter smoke condition in the building. After investigating further, they found fire on the first floor, one of the hotel rooms itself. The fire was contained to one individual hotel room," said Milwaukee Assistant Fire Chief Schuyler Belott.
Crews made their way inside the room.
"They found one victim in the apartment of origin. Removed that individual and determined that person passed away," added Belott.
The death is heartbreaking for people staying at the hotel, some of them long-term.
"I just need everyone to pray for Norwood," Hogan added.
Fire trucks at the hotel
People had just seconds to wake up, get out of bed, and evacuate the building.
It was a cold morning.
Milwaukee County buses rolled into the lot to help keep people warm during the firefight and investigation.
"I went downstairs and there was a bunch of smoke," said Jay Tapia.
Crews spent the morning trying to figure out what started the fire.
"Investigation is underway with our fire investigators and the Milwaukee Police Department," said Belott.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner later confirmed that it was a 75-year-old man who died, and the fire is not considered suspicious.
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Norwood Inn & Suites
In the meantime, some people who call this hotel home are hurting.
"Send as much love as you possibly could for this hotel, because this hotel is all we got," said Hogan.
FOX6 saw people going back inside the hotel by late morning.
Authorities are working to identify the victim.