Whitefish Bay Apartment Evacuated after Fire Causes $30,000 in Damage; No Sign of Smoke Alarms

WHITEFISH BAY -- An apartment building on the 5200 block of N. Diversey was evacuated after an early-morning fire that cased $30,000 in damage Friday.

Whitefish Bay police said an apartment resident reported smoke in the hallway on the second floor of 5200 N. Diversey Blvd. in Whitefish Bay. North Shore Fire/Rescue and Whitefish Bay Police Department units were dispatched immediately.

Fire and law enforcement crews found heavy smoke conditions on the second floor, pulled a pull-station to notify other residents to begin evacuation of the structure and upgraded the alarm to bring additional resources to the scene. Upon investigation, crews found a fire that had mostly self-extinguished in a second floor apartment.

During the investigation and fire attack by the first arriving crew, they located a victim inside of the apartment who had been attempting to extinguish the fire prior to the arrival of fire crews. The victim was removed from the building and care was transferred to North Shore Paramedics. After evaluation on scene, the victim declined transport to the hospital.

Officials say the fire started in an office/den area of a unit on the second floor of the structure. Investigators from North Shore Fire/Rescue and Whitefish Bay Police Department remain on the scene investigating the exact cause of the fire as of Friday morning.

All occupants with the exception of the unit of origin were able to reoccupy their residences. The damage estimate to the structure and contents is estimated at $30,000. No alarms were sounding on the arrival of fire and law enforcement units, despite a large volume of smoke in the common hallway.

North Shore Fire/Rescue would like to remind everyone that working smoke alarms on every level and inside and outside of every sleeping area provide early warning, giving occupants in a fire the best chance to safely evacuate. Alarms should be tested at least monthly.