Milwaukee Highland Court apartments fire, investigation ongoing
Apartment fire investigation ongoing
Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski on Tuesday said they still can't rule anything out when it comes to the fire at Highland Court Apartments.
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski on Tuesday said they still can't rule anything out when it comes to the cause of the fire at Highland Court Apartments that left five people dead and several others injured.
Fire investigation
What they're saying:
Lipski said investigators don’t yet know how the Mother’s Day fire started and spread so fast.
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"What they're really trying to do is locate the origin and, at that point, what caused it to start," said Lipski. "Let me just say this: The potential for an intentional act cannot be ruled out at this point."
A number of agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are working together to gather evidence in the ongoing investigation.
Milwaukee fatal apartment fire; investigation update from officials
Milwaukee fire officials and other city leaders spoke in the aftermath of a fatal apartment fire near 27th and Highland.
Fire victims identified
What they're saying:
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office on Tuesday identified 31-year-old Shakwanda Harris as the previously unidentified victim of the Mother's Day fire at 27th and Highland.
"She was very nice, loving and caring," said Nikeya Harris, Shakwanda's sister.
The family said Shakwanda was a mother of five.
Torrell Coleman died in the fire. Relatives said he was visiting the apartment building on Sunday when the fire started.
Yusef Moore was friends with fire victim Maureen Green. He said Green grew up in New Jersey and lived with Verna Richards, who also died in the fire.
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"Really want to know just how and why?" he said. "Still can’t believe that she’s gone."
Mark Chaffin, 76, also died.
Residents displaced
What they're saying:
The Red Cross disaster team opened a shelter at Holler Park, near 6th and Edgerton, for displaced residents. There are approximately 114 people displaced, 29 of whom spent Monday night at the shelter.
"On Mother's Day – I would've never thought I would wake up and see stuff like this in my life," said Andy Johnson, a resident displaced due to the fire.
Apartment fire, shelter for displaced residents
A fire at Milwaukee's Highland Court Apartments displaced more than 100 residents. The Red Cross has set up a shelter.
The 64-year-old said he woke up to a strong smell of smoke.
"I opened my door, the smoke came in my apartment so fast it scared me to death, so I hurried up and closed the door," he said. "I was scared to death."
"I knew that either we jump or we climb down somehow to get out," said displaced resident James Nichols. "I took the ladder down, left everything in there."
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Both Johnson and Nichols are among those spending the night at the Red Cross' temporary shelter. The organization's Jennifer Warren said the shelter is also providing medical health services, mental health services, spiritual care and comfort kids.
Anyone displaced by the fire who is in need of assistance should call 1-800-RED CROSS.
What's next:
The Milwaukee Fire Department said residents could return to Highland Court Apartments next week.
The Source: The information in this post was provided by the Milwaukee Fire Department as well as previous FOX6 News coverage.