A fast-moving overnight fire ripped through three neighboring houses near 29th Street and Chambers Street in Milwaukee early Saturday, leaving all three homes uninhabitable but, in a small mercy, injuring no residents or firefighters. Neighbors hurried outside as fire crews worked into the morning and relief agencies stepped in to help the families who suddenly had nowhere to go.
Firefighters Confront Heavy Flames in Middle House
The Milwaukee Fire Department said a 911 call came in just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday. When crews pulled up, they found the center house fully involved, with flames shooting through all three floors and spreading to the homes on either side, according to FOX6 Milwaukee.
Three Homes Declared Unsafe as Red Cross Responds
Firefighters searched the properties and confirmed that everyone had made it out, with no injuries reported. Officials later determined that all three houses were unsafe to live in, and the American Red Cross was called to assist the displaced residents, as reported by WISN.
Dog Pulled From Blaze and Given Oxygen
During their searches, firefighters found an unconscious dog inside and provided oxygen treatment on the scene. The pet’s condition was not immediately known, according to FOX6 Milwaukee, which also reported that no firefighters were hurt while knocking down the flames.
Cause Probed as Summer Fire Risks Loom
The Milwaukee Fire Department has said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, according to WISN, with investigators still working the scene Saturday morning.
Fire officials and local reporting have long warned that July Fourth and illegal fireworks can spike the city’s risk of residential fires, a pattern detailed by Wisconsin Watch. While the cause of this latest blaze is not yet known, it arrives against that familiar backdrop of heightened summer fire danger.
