"Thick, black smoke:" 59-year-old man pulled from burning home near 27th & Stark

Developing: Man pulled from burning home near 27th & Stark; taken to the hospital

MILWAUKEE -- Officials with the Milwaukee Fire Department tell FOX6 News a 59-year-old man was pulled from a burning home on Wednesday, May 11th near 27th and Stark in Milwaukee.

The man was taken to Columbia St. Mary's Hospital.

The fire broke out around 12:15 p.m.

The man's mother was in the home at the time of the fire, and spoke with FOX6's Krystle Kacner at the scene.

Fire at 27th and Stark

"It was thick, black smoke," Virginia Taylor said.

Milwaukee Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing tells FOX6 News initial callers regarding this fire indicated there were people trapped inside.

When firefighters arrived, one person was trapped on the second floor.

Firefighters were able to locate the 59-year-old man in an upstairs back bedroom, and remove him from the home. Chief Rohlfing said he had suffered extensive burns and smoke inhalation.

"I got up from the table and went to the stairs and I saw all this black smoke coming down the stairs. That`s when I called the fire department," Virginia Taylor said.

Fire at 27th and Stark

Virginia Taylor told FOX6 News the victim is her son, James. She said she has lived in the home for 22 years.

"My first instinct was to run inside myself," Kelly Harris said.

But by the time Harris got to the scene, Uncle James was already on the way to Columbia St. Mary's, for treatment in the burn unit.

Fire at 27th and Stark

"It's kind of weird how, when you get that kind of call, everything you say you would do just goes out the window and you just react," Harris said.

The family said they are grateful for the Milwaukee Fire Department. Virginia Taylor said because of them, their loss is minimal.

Fire at 27th and Stark

"To me, it's material things. My concern is (James)," Virginia Taylor said.

"We're a close, tight-knit family and we're going to stay that way," Harris said.

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The fire was brought under control within about 90 minutes.

FOX6 News is told a police officer was also hurt while trying to help the man. We're told the officer was treated for smoke inhalation -- but that officer is expected to be okay.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Officials say there was at least one working smoke detector in the building.

Fire at 27th and Stark

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.