Apartment Fire Displaces Residents in Racine

Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, April 26 Racine Fire Department responded to 314 10th Street for a report of crackling in the walls of an apartment. The caller warned the other tenants of the fire and everyone was able to evacuate the building.

When fire crews arrived on scene they did not see any smoke but observed some heat damage on a wall within an apartment. They removed the plaster from the wall and ceiling and found the fire within the wall.

Firefighters were able to put the fire out within a few minutes and follow the fire extension into the attic. WE Energies determined that the natural gas should not be turned back on after the fire so all tenants had to be placed into temporary housing. Red Cross assisted the tenants that did not have a place to go.

One apartment sustained most of the damage. There are eight units in the apartment building.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation but the fire started on the second floor and spread to the attic.

Damage is estimated at over $10,000.