4 dead, 4 critically hurt in apartment fire near 27th and Highland
MILWAUKEE (CBS58) — Four people are dead and four others are critically hurt in a large apartment fire near 27th and Highland Sunday morning, May 11.
"You got people jumping out of the building, people jumping off the fourth floor," said Emerald Gransberry, a Highland Court resident.
As flames tore through the Highland Court apartment complex, people broke windows and tied bed sheets together to escape the flames.
"People lost their pets and everything," said Gransberry. "It's really bad."
Highland Court resident Emerald Gransberry lives on the third floor.
"When I opened the door, the whole hallway was in flames," said Gransberry.
He says his whole apartment filled with black smoke.
"I never made it out of the apartment I was rescued from the bedroom window," said Gransberry.
Fire Chief Aaron Lipski says the 85-unit apartment complex was built in 1968, before sprinkler systems were required by law.
"You make absolutely no mistake that dramatically impacts the survivability in this building once a fire starts," said Chief Lipski.
A second-floor resident says his neighbor was among the four people killed.
"I actually saw him, I saw him," said the resident.
Chief Lipski says more than 20 fire units and eight ladder trucks responded including Wauwatosa and West Allis.
He believes the fire started in a common area on the third floor.
"The speed at which these alarms are transmitted is indicative of the seriousness of this situation," said Chief Lipski.
Chief Lipski says the building is completely uninhabitable leaving hundreds without a home.
"That's another problem we are always working to develop new shelter opportunities so we can mass shelter especially an 85-unit apartment building," said Chief Lipski.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Our crew was on scene as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames.
The American Red Cross of Wisconsin is helping those displaced by the fire.
Stick with CBS 58 on-air and online for updates.