WAUKESHA, Wis. — Two people were forced to jump from the second floor window, a 50-year-old man was killed and several others are suffering from severe injuries after a four-unit residence caught fire in Waukesha early Tuesday morning.
The Waukesha Fire Department said in an update that an unnamed 50-year-old man has died after being brought to the hospital with critical injuries. Currently in the hospital are a woman in her 50s with life-threatening injuries, a woman in her 20s with life-threatening injuries, a man in his 20s with non-life threatening injuries and another man in his late 20s with non-life threatening injuries.
Fire officials add that four other residents - two adults and two children - were not hurt in the fire. At this time they do not believe the fire started from "criminal origins."
The department said in an initial statement that crews were called to 1211 Lambeth Road around 1:25 a.m. where they found the first floor of the building being consumed by flames.
Two people had to jump from windows on the second floor of the building. First responders further aided two other people who were injured and outside the building.
Firefighters entered the burning building and saved two more residents inside, according to the fire department.
In total five people - three men and two women - were brought to Waukesha Memorial Hospital.
14-year-old Jadien Rivera lived in one of the first floor apartments with his aunt and grandma. He said they were able to escape the fire without injury, but the experience has left them shaken.
"I heard banging on the door, it had me really scared. I just heard someone yell 'there's a fire, there's a fire," Rivera recalled.
He and his family grabbed what they could, including the family cats, and luckily got out. Rivera called the whole night a horrible experience.
Rivera's mom, Crystal Marti, lives not too far away and said she received a call from her sister about the fire at 1:30 a.m.
"Once my sister called me, I knew something was wrong. And immediately you think of the worst when they say fire," Marti said. "They have to start over, they're only left with what was on thier backs."
Marti returned with her son Tuesday afternoon to pick up their belonging that survived in the fire. But, there wasn't much left. A GoFundMe was started for the family to help them get back on their feet, you can find that by clicking here.
"I never thought something like this would happen. A lot of people were hurt and that just really hurts me too," Rivera said.
City of Waukesha Fire Department Fire Chief Steven Howard said during a press briefing that there is no word on the condition of the victims. He said they are still accounting for all residents in the building. Everyone has a place to stay and the Salvation Army is not needed at this time, the chief said.
The fire was under control about 35 minutes after crews were first called, the fire department said.
No firefighters were injured, and no damage estimate or cause of the fire is available at this time, according to WFD.
The Wisconsin State Fire Marshal was notified.
