Fire seriously damages two Milwaukee homes
Fire started about 2:20 p.m. near North 23rd and Hopkins streets
Fire started about 2:20 p.m. near North 23rd and Hopkins streets
Fire started about 2:20 p.m. near North 23rd and Hopkins streets
A house caught fire Wednesday afternoon near 23rd and Hopkins streets. Gusts of winds aided the fire in spreading next door.
Benyell Mathis said the fire started at his home.
"Hurt, right away, hurt. I want to cry so bad right now but it's like there's nothing I can do about it," Mathis said.
Mathis was at work when he received the call that his childhood home was in flames.
"I grew up here. A lot of my other family members have too, and it's just super unfortunate. I don't know what could've started this fire. All I leave on is a lamp and TV, and I do this each and every day while I go to work and come home. And now I come home and it's in shambles," said Mathis.
Milwaukee Fire Department Battalion Chief Nick Trost told WISN 12 News reporter Kendall Keys nobody was injured in the fire.
Trost said they received a call at 2:22 p.m.
"The first call came in as something burning in the alley. It was quickly updated to a full assignment, which is our normal response for a structure fire. Obviously, you can tell with the high winds, it played detrimental to the fire. It took off very rapidly," said Trost.
The high winds made it difficult for firefighters to battle the fire. It destroyed Mathis' home and the house next door.
"We basically were faced with two house fires in these kind of conditions. Things are icing up, things are really cold outside, on top of the wind playing against us," said Trost, "The main house for sure is a total loss. The house to the south, it does look like it could also be a total loss," Trost said.
They were still at the scene hours later.
Mathis was wrapping his mind around losing the only home he has known for 42 years.
"I'm still in shock right now. I just, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say. Hopefully, I know God is always on my side so something will work out eventually, but right now I am hurt beyond measure," said Mathis.
Trost said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. He reminded residents to test their household's smoke alarms. If they are not functioning, the fire department will install them free of charge.