MILWAUKEE — One person is in "extremely critical condition," according to Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski after a fire broke out at The Cambridge Apartments on Sunday night.
Milwaukee Police say two 76-year-olds and a 78-year-old were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Additionally, 91 units were displaced by the fire.
Cambridge Apartments, located on Cambridge Avenue near Oakland Avenue, is "a residence for senior citizens," according to the building's website.
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Fire officials responded just after 8:30 p.m. Sunday to reports of a fire. They found flames, mostly contained in an apartment on the tenth floor, shooting out of the building.
Authorities say multiple other people were evaluated by first responders at the scene.
TMJ4 News spoke with neighbors as they evacuated their homes on Sunday night.
"There was smoke in my bathroom, smoke in my living room. I turned on my fans but, when I went out on my patio, I looked up and I saw the flames," said Betty Busateri, who lives at Cambridge Apartments.
Chief Lipski also mentioned that the weather was a challenge for fire crews responding to this incident.
"It is no small feat to push against a wind-driven fire," he said. "I credit those companies with quick extinguishing."
The fire drew a massive two-alarm high-rise response, resulting in dozens of emergency vehicles and crews blocking roads in the Lower East Side neighborhood for hours on Sunday.
The cause of the fire was ruled undetermined but may be electrical, according to MPD.
"I'm really glad that I'm here and able to be here," resident Lisa Quindel said. "When you open your door and it's all smoke and you go holy mackerel, people are… you can tell by the face are coming from the top they're scared."
Quindel was one of more than 50 people that stayed at the Clinton Rose Senior Center where the American Red Cross set up a temporary shelter. She was expecting to be out of her home for at least four days.
Quindel plans to stay with the group at the shelter to help her neighbors who might need assistance.
"I'm retired and life is easy for me but it's really unnerving for older people. I think it's very difficult on them," Quindel stated.
TMJ4 News reached out to Housing Ministries of American Baptists in Wisconsin, which owns Cambridge Apartments, for comment but did not get an immediate response.
Milwaukee police released this statement:
The Milwaukee Police Department is investigating a two-alarm fire that occurred on 11/12/23 at about 8:46pm in the 1800 block of N. Cambridge. A 76 year old victim was conveyed to a local hospital and is in critical condition. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414)224-Tips/ or P3 Tips.
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