By Jennifer Warren, Regional Communications Director
On Tuesday afternoon, January 12, Lorenzo McDaniel was at home when he heard the smoke alarms go off in his apartment complex. McDaniel, a resident of Hampton Garden Apartments on Milwaukee’s north side, didn’t think much of it at first. The alarms went off often, he said—usually just people playing games. Still, he opened his apartment door to take a look around, and that’s when he realized this time was different.
As he stepped out into the hallway, black smoke filled the air, and flames were visible from another unit across the hall. Heading toward the building’s emergency door, McDaniel described the scene as “crazy.” Firefighters were smashing windows and doors to get inside, he recalled. A backdraft blew out a window, causing a loud explosion.
McDaniel said he felt lucky to get out unharmed. Unfortunately, his apartment didn’t fare nearly as well; while untouched by the flames, the water used to fight the fire caused significant damage. “My whole kitchen was soaked,” he said. “I had water dripping through the ceiling.”
The fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. on the second floor of the east wing of the three-story complex, forcing the evacuation of roughly 150 residents. In total, 80 apartment units were displaced. A shelter was set up at McNair Elementary School, just a few blocks away, to assist those affected. Red Cross Disaster Action Team responders were on-site to offer emotional support and help settle 76 residents.
Randy Mueller wasn’t home when the fire began. When he returned, he saw smoke and flames pouring from the second floor of the east wing. The street had been cordoned off, and he couldn’t get close, so he stood on the corner and watched in shock as the situation unfolded. Near him, a woman lay on the sidewalk receiving oxygen after suffering from smoke inhalation while first responders worked around her.
Mueller lived in the west wing, so his apartment wasn’t touched by the flames. However, heavy smoke still spread through the building, releasing toxic chemicals like carbon monoxide that can cause lingering odors and pose serious health risks even after the fire is out.
Despite the chaos of the day, McDaniel tried to stay optimistic, mentioning that his birthday is next Friday and saying he feels blessed to have made it out safely.
As residents like him and Mueller began to process what happened, support efforts shifted toward longer‑term recovery, including the upcoming Multi‑Agency Resource Center (MARC) to be held on Monday, January 26, at McNair Elementary School, where public and private organizations will come together to provide resources, assistance, and essential items to residents impacted by the fire.
The Red Cross responds to about five home fires each week in Milwaukee County, and every response is different. Each one is critical to the people who have suffered a loss and are suddenly facing one of the hardest days of their lives. For more information about home fire safety, visit www.redcross.org/firesafety.
If you would like to support the Red Cross—either as a volunteer or by making a donation—you can learn more at www.redcross.org.
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