A large, multi-story apartment building on the 5200 block of 43rd Avenue in Kenosha erupted in flames Thursday night, forcing residents into the street and prompting dramatic ladder rescues. Two people were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries while crews worked to corral the blaze.
According to a press release from the Kenosha Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched to a reported kitchen fire and arrived to find smoke and flames showing. Crews mounted what officials called an aggressive offensive attack on the first and second floors, using multiple ground ladders to rescue people trapped on the second floor. The department reported the incident was brought under control in roughly 30 minutes and said no firefighters were injured. The building was later deemed uninhabitable, and mutual-aid companies from Pleasant Prairie, Bristol, Somers, Paris and Newport Township, Illinois, backfilled Kenosha fire stations while local crews remained on scene.
Block Still Raw After Thanksgiving Blaze
For neighbors along this stretch of 43rd Avenue, Thursday night was a painful echo of a deadly Thanksgiving fire on Nov. 27, 2025, when a multi-family apartment fire on the same 5200 block killed three children, as reported by Spectrum News 1. That earlier fire prompted vigils and local relief efforts and left residents pressing for answers.
Local coverage at the time captured the community response and highlighted the Disaster Response Team's efforts to aid displaced families. With two major incidents now tied to the same block, concerns about building safety and tenant supports have resurfaced among residents.
What Officials Say And Next Steps
The fire department listed Fire Chief Daniel A. Tilton as the media contact in its release and provided a phone number and email for follow-up. Officials reiterated that the building has been declared uninhabitable and said investigators will review the scene. Additional details were included in the department's press release from the Kenosha Fire Department.
