Portable heater to blame for deadly fire in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood

MILWAUKEE-- Residents said they lost everything in Tuesday night's fatal fire near 11th and Mineral, now they're left to look for a new place to call home.

"To be honest, we didn't know if we should run or cry because I was in a panic," said Francisca Hernandez, who lived in the house.

Hernandez and her husband Oscar said they were awakened by screams from a neighbor, that their home was on fire Tuesday night. She said they ran for their lives.

"We left without anything, we left like this," said Hernandez.

The clothes on their backs are the only thing that they have left.

The Milwaukee Fire Department said about 12 people were displaced, leaving one dead and another in the hospital. The man who died identified as Feliciano Gomez by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office. 

"Our understanding is what possibly caused the fire was the use of a portable heater," said Lt. Carlos Velazquez Sanchez, Director of Community Relations for the Milwaukee Fire Dept.

Lt. Carlos Velazquez Sanchez of the Milwaukee Fire Department says the fire started in the back area of the second floor, where allegedly Gomez lived.

This is the second fatal fire this month. The first claiming the life of a 9-year-old near north Servite Drive.

"As far as we know, both fires did not have working smoke alarms in the interior on the units," said Lt. Velazquez Sanchez.

He's pleading with the community to get working smoke detectors and to also practice safe habits when using portable heaters.

Lt. Velazquez Sanchez suggests plugging portable heaters into outlets-- not extension cords, to avoid flammable items near the heater, and to turn off the heater when it's not in use.

"What we are seeing more is a higher number of fires based on portable heaters or other heating sources," said Lt. Velazquez Sanchez.

That's a lesson that's ingrained in the lives of the Hernandez who say they have a long way to get back on their feet.

"We'll keep fighting on to move forward."

The Milwaukee Fire Department asks that anyone in need of a smoke detector to reach out to them at 414-286-8980.