Milwaukee fatal apartment fire; 22nd and Layton
MILWAUKEE - A 62-year-old woman is dead following an apartment fire in Milwaukee on Thursday morning, Feb. 8. Crews were called out to the area of 22nd and Layton around 6:45 a.m.
On Monday, Feb. 12, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified the woman as Lidia Soto Padua.
The Milwaukee Fire Department removed five people from the building. Dozens of others self-evacuated.
The fire broke out on the third floor and the entire building was evacuated.
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Apartment fire
Two people were taken to the hospital. Fire officials said one person remains in critical condition.
The fire impacted 39 units of the complex and displaced 40 residents. The Red Cross is assisting those who have been displaced.
"We have our fire investigator on scene, they will be working alongside the Milwaukee Police Department to determine the origin and cause," said fire officials. "It appears the fire started in one apartment, and as far as I'm aware, it sounds like that fire stayed within that apartment. But we did have smoke that spread down the hallway."
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Resident William Adorno Maldonado knew the woman that died.
"My heart just sunk," he said. "We were just talking yesterday. I had never experienced anything like this."
Smoke alarms were present and operational throughout the floor and entire building, the fire department confirmed.
FOX6 News translated some quotes featured in this story for clarity.