Sunday evening, at approximately 7:06 PM the Bayside Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a possible kitchen fire at 8100 N 53rd Street in Brown Deer. Subsequent calls also began to come in reporting a house on fire. Fire and law enforcement crews were dispatched immediately. Brown Deer law enforcement officers arriving on scene reported heavy smoke coming from a single family home.

The three occupants reported that they smelled smoke and went to investigate. Upon entering their kitchen, they were met with heavy black smoke coming up the stairs from the basement. 

The first arriving fire company found a working fire in a one-story residence and initiated an aggressive transitional fire attack on what was determined to be a basement fire. The incident commander upgraded the alarm to bring additional resources to the scene. All of the occupants of the home had evacuated prior to the arrival of the police and fire departments. The residents of the home reported that three pets remained
inside.

Unfortunately, a primary search of the residence revealed that all three family pets (two cats and one Guinea pig) had succumbed to the fire conditions in the home. One occupant of the home was evaluated for minor injuries but ultimately declined transportation to the hospital.

There is heavy fire damage to the entire basement of the home. In addition, the first floor suffered extensive heat and smoke damage. The preliminary estimate of damage to the structure and contents is approximately $80,000.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation; however, it appears the fire started in a corner of the basement. The fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

First arriving law enforcement officers report that they did hear a smoke alarm sounding on their arrival. Additionally, a smoke alarm was found in the basement, however due to the damage to the alarm, it was unclear whether that alarm operated appropriately. A working smoke alarm was found on the first floor of the home.