One Treated after No Alarms Sound in Whitefish Bay Apartment Fire

At 1:49 AM Friday morning a 9-1-1 call was received from the resident of a Whitefish Bay apartment building reporting smoke in the hallway on the second floor of 5200 North Diversey Boulevard.

First arriving fire and law enforcement crews found heavy smoke conditions on the second floor and pulled a pull-station to notify other residents to begin evacuation.

Upon investigation, crews found a fire that had mostly self-extinguished in a second floor apartment. The remaining fire was extinguished utilizing a pump can.

During the investigation and fire attack by the first arriving crew, officials 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 treated on scene.

Officials believe the fire started in an office/den area of a unit on the second floor. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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.