Tag Archives: South Milwaukee house fire

by | December 13, 2012 · 8:05 am

Updated: Man Dies After Car Crashes Into South Milwaukee Home, Catches Fire

Update: Check out coverage from TMJ4, WISN and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

There was a scary — and tragic — incident early Thursday morning near 9th and Edgewood, as a car crashed into a house and caught fire, killing the driver and setting the home on fire.

Everyone in the house got out safely.

Check out an updated press release from the South Milwaukee Police Department, noting that police “were not actively pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash.” From it:

On Thursday 12/13/12 at about 0151hrs, an SMPD officer, while running stationary radar, observed a vehicle pass him at approximately 25mph over the posted speed limit. The vehicle failed to stop for both audible and visual signals and subsequently crashed.

The fleeing vehicle had accelerated to a point that the officer could no longer see the vehicle.  The officer was not actively pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash.  After traveling approximately 11 blocks, the officer discovered a vehicle which had crashed in the 700 block of Edgewood.  This vehicle is believed to have been the fleeing vehicle.

The vehicle was on fire and the fire spread to a nearby house.  The residents of the house were safely evacuated.  SMPD is still working to identify the driver, and lone occupant, who was deceased.   The Wisconsin State Patrol assisted in the accident investigation.  Investigation is ongoing.  No further information is available at this time.

Here is coverage, including video, from Fox 6.

I’ll keep you posted if I learn more.

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by | June 7, 2012 · 10:37 am

South Milwaukee House Fire Reported

Update: Here is the Fox 6 story.

There was a house fire overnight at 515 Madison Ave. that left the second floor of a multifamily residence there extensively damaged. No one was hurt.

Firefighters from the Cudahy, St. Francis, Oak Creek and the 128th Air Refueling Wing fought the blaze, which also included this scary scene, as described by Acting South Milwauke Fire Chief Joe Knitter …

Fire crews arrived and encountered heavy fire on the 2nd floor, rear balcony extending into the second floor apartment and attic area. At the same time, the aluminum electrical service had shorted due to the fire and the entire building (gutters, siding, etc.) was energized and arcing.

Here is Acting Chief Knitter’s full description … 

A resident at 505 Madison Avenue was in their rear yard at approximately 2:35 AM and smelled smoke. While looking for the source, they discovered the rear porch burning at 515 Madison. They immediately went to knock on the doors and awoke the occupants allowing them to self-evacuate. Neither tenant knew anything of the fire and left the dwelling safely. Fire crews arrived and encountered heavy fire on the 2nd floor, rear balcony extending into the second floor apartment and attic area. At the same time, the aluminum electrical service had shorted due to the fire and the entire building (gutters, siding, etc.) was energized and arcing. Lt. Dan Lang, as the Shift Officer, upgraded the level of response to a Working Still which brings in our mutual aid partners from Cudahy, St. Francis, Oak Creek and the 128th ANG. SMFD crews cautiously extended a hoseline between the houses to the rear yard and knocked down a bulk of the fire while additional crews extended hoselines into both the first and second floors through the front entrance. A primary search was completed to assure all occupants were accounted for – which they were. The American red Cross was contacted to assist the displaced occupants. Damage to the second floor is extensive. Damage to the first floor is limited to minor smoke damage and moderate water damage. No injuries were reported.

The area of origin is the 2nd floor balcony and the cause remains undetermined at this time.

I’ll keep you posted.

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