Milwaukee Fire Department says one person is dead and two people were taken to the hospital after a senior apartment fire on the city's south side Thursday morning.
Milwaukee Firefighters were called to the Layton Gardens senior apartments near 22nd and Layton.
On Monday February 12, the person killed was identified by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office as 62-year-old Lidia Soto Padua.
According to the report from the Medical Examiner's Office, the fire started in the unit next door to Soto Padua's. The occupant of that next door unit was "a heavy smoker on home oxygen," though the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
Two other residents were evaluated by first responders at the scene, but have not been taken to the hospital.
"I had my window open a little bit in my bed room and I smelled smoke," said Annette Nelson, who evacuated from the building. "The second I knew they (MFD) were slamming on my door and they're like you got to get out."
The Milwaukee Fire Department said the flames were contained to one apartment on the third floor but smoke traveled throughout the three story building.
"We received a phone call from somebody," said Assistant Chief Schuyler Belott. "...giving some additional information about the black smoke and fire."
"I did call the fire department," said Ruth Peterson, who also evacuated the building. "They kept telling me to come out and I kept saying no I don't want to."
It was a phone call Ruth said she never thought she'd have to make twice in a lifetime.
"I just moved here about a week ago from Washington Square Apartments which they were on fire just like this," said Ruth.
It was a scene all too familiar. Ruth said it had only been three weeks since she and some 30 others were displaced from their homes in Cudahy. She tells TMJ4 New Reporter Sydni Eure that she was just getting back on her feet.
"This is hard I'm just not used to this at all," said Ruth. "It's just too soon you know. I haven't even gotten over the first fire and all of a sudden…again."
Dozens of neighbors along with Annette and Ruth were able to get out on their own. Anyone who needed a warm place to wait for crews to finish working were able to sit inside of transit buses nearby.
"After that we'll be in contact with the Red Cross," said Belott. "They're great partners helping us tend to the more near term needs of folks that have been displaced."
The cause of the fire is still unknown at this time.
It's hard," said Annette. "Just worried about people just sitting here hoping that they're okay, you know."
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