Overnight Fire Displaces 21 People, Started In Kitchen: Report

WAUKESHA, WI -- A late-night apartment fire that started in a kitchen of one of the units on the 400 block of N. East Ave. left 21 people without a place to stay, fire officials say.

Police and Fire responded to 405 N. East Ave. just after midnight Wednesday after a woman in the apartment called 911 to report the fire. Officials say first responders arrived on-scene within four minutes and reported large amounts of smoke coming from the two-story, 16-unit apartment building.

Officials say that the fire was under control within 20 minutes after first responders arrived, and that the fire was confined to the room where it started. The Red Cross and the Waukesha Metro Transit are caring for 21 temporarily-displaced residents. There were no firefighter injuries.

First responders reported rescuing everyone who was trapped inside the building, bringing at least eight people to safety who had mobility challenges, fire officials said. Once the victims were removed from the building they were treated by the fire department.

Two patients were transported to the hospital, and eight patients were treated on-scene, and released following treatment. Two more people are receiving care at local hospitals.

Investigators say that the fire likely started in the kitchen area of the apartment. Damage estimates are still being assessed.

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