"Everybody was concerned:" Flames light up area near Wright & Pierce after fire breaks out overnight
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A Milwaukee family is without a home after a fire broke out overnight at a duplex on Wright Street near Pierce. Thankfully, everyone was able to get out safely.
Flames lit up the area near Wright Street and Pierce Street around 2:00 a.m. Sunday, May 10th.
Fire Wright Street & Pierce Street
"It was pretty bad. Like, the flames were shooting out of the top," neighbor Jen Ullrich said.
Fire Wright Street & Pierce Street
The home's attic was charred by the flames.
"The top floor was like a renovated attic apartment. It was actually like a residence -- not just an attic that caught on fire," Ullrich said.
"Everybody was concerned," neighbor Rick Wolniakowski said.
Fortunately, the four people inside the home at the time were able to escape the fire.
"I`m very thankful to those people who put the fire down because it looked uncontrollable -- like, scary flames, but they did a good job," next-door neighbor Liya Chernyakova said.
Fire Wright Street & Pierce Street
Chernyakova says her gate was damaged by firefighters racing to extinguish the flames.
"I think they tried to get inside because they wanted to put a ladder inside. I was inside there. It was scary because there was sparks all over the place," Chernyakova said.
Worried the fire could get worse, Chernyakova grabbed her hose -- prepared to try to do what she could to contain it.
Fire Wright Street & Pierce Street
"This tree was on fire and it was all blowing this way. I was here because I was thinking I don`t want my house to get on fire. I will try to put it out myself," Chernyakova said.
Firefighters were able to eventually extinguish this fire.
"It was very effective. There was lots of people taking it from different sides," Chernyakova said.
Chernyakova's gate trouble was trivial compared to the $80,000 worth of damage next door.
Fire Wright Street & Pierce Street
Police and fire officials continue to investigate the cause of this fire.
We're told there were no smoke detectors inside the home. American Red Cross officials were called out to the scene to assist four adults.