Fire near 33rd and Fairmount claims 3 lives early Wednesday morning
Updated: 10:13 a.m. on March 30, 2023
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The victims of a fatal house fire at 33rd and Fairmount have been identified as 53-year-old Erwin Ray, 57-year-old Ernest Ray Jr. and 83-year-old Ernest Ray Sr.
Published: 6:09 a.m. on March 29, 2023
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee father and his two sons are dead after a house fire near 33rd and Fairmount on Wednesday, March 29. The victims were 83, 57, and 53 years old.
Milwaukee firefighters say the fire started in the basement for unknown reasons and spread to the first floor and then the upper floor.
"Fire companies made entry began extinguishing fire. There was an immense amount of fire and they started to experience structural collapse on the inside of this home, first floor was falling into the basement The second floor is falling into the first floor."
Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Aaron Lipski said they knew early on someone might be inside.
"Firefighting operations and search and rescue operations happen at the same time," Chief Lipski said.
Officials say the fire likely started near the furnace and hot water heater in the basement. The 83-year-old man and 57-year-old man were both removed from the home and given care before they passed away. The 53-year-old was dead when they found him.
It's believed no working smoke detectors were in the home -- something Chief Lipski said wasn't helped by the timing of the fire.
"No firefighters on this scene heard the sound of a smoke alarm sounding... 4:30 in the morning is an absolutely horrible time," Lipski said.
Lipski said there has already been seven deaths from fires this year, which is why him and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson pushed the importance of having working smoke alarms.
"When something like this happens that the fire department does what it does and blankets the area to make sure that people around this community know about the importance of having working smoke detectors," Mayor Johnson said.
Johnson thanked firefighters for being there to help.
"Their own safety out of the equation to go in to make sure they protect and serve," said Johnson.
Milwaukee firefighters say if you live in the city and you need a working smoke detector for your home, call 414-286-8980.
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