One person dead following apartment fire in Waukesha

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A woman has died after fire broke out in a 47-unit apartment building.

It happened around 11 p.m. on Sunday in the 1400 block of Big Bend Road.

Upon arrival, crews found smoke and fire coming from a first-floor apartment.

Fire crews extinguished the fire and located a victim within five minutes of their arrival.

The 65-year-old victim died from her injuries.

The victim's caretaker and friend who lives above the victim, Pat Warichak, heard the smoke alarms going off and immediately when to check on the victim. 

“I opened her door because I wanted to check on her and I got this big blast of smoke," Warichak said. 

Warichak had a bad feeling that her friend was dead inside the apartment. 

“I knew as soon as I opened that door and there was all that smoke," Warichak said. 

Warichak now plans to take care of the victim's dog who managed to escape the apartment. 

The Medical Examiner's Office is investigating the death.

No other occupants or firefighters were injured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.