2 dead following Milwaukee apartment building fire

Updated: Nov. 20, 2025

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A second person died following an apartment fire that happened Saturday, Nov. 8.

According to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's office, a 73-year-old died on Nov. 18. 

The two victims were identified by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office as 75-year-old Paul Blake and 73-year-old Kayleen Blake. 

The ME's office says the victims were married. 

Published: Nov. 8, 2025

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Fire Department says one person is dead and two other people hospitalized following an apartment fire during the morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 8.

The fire broke out at the building near S. 1st Street and Layton Avenue around 6:19 a.m.

Upon arrival, crews found one person dead -- identified by police as a 75-year-old -- and transported two other victims who were hurt.  

Officials say numerous other people were rescued from windows, and other residents were able to self-evacuate.

MFD Chief Aaron Lipski sounded off on the lack of a fire sprinkler system in the 20-unit apartment building. 

"We do not have a fatality here right now, and two other people hanging on if we had a sprinkler," Lipski said. "It would have stopped it right in place."

Lipski said around 70 firefighters and paramedics responded to the second-alarm fire.

"Six in the morning on a Saturday is a very bad time to have a fire. People are resting in from the long week of work, or they were out the night before. It's a bad time for us," Lipski said. 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but MPD says it does not appear to be suspicious. 

The American Red Cross opened a shelter for displaced residents at Holler Park in Milwaukee, located at 5151 S. 6th Street.