The Milwaukee Police department is investigating a fatal house fire that occurred on Friday, April 23 at approximately 10 p.m. in the area of 118th and Florist.
Police and the Milwaukee Medical Examiner confirm that a 10-year-old boy died in the house fire.
Two other residents of the home are being treated at a local hospital for smoke inhalation.
Saturday morning neighbors walked by the home in disbelief.
Barb and Steve Danielson have lived in the area for 20 years and as they woke up to tragic news they walked past the house like they always do but with heavy hearts.
"It's sad, It's just sad," Barb Danielson said. "We used to take walks all the time and I used to always see they had beautiful decorations Christmas, Halloween, Easter," Steve Danielson added.
Acting Deputy Fire Chief Will Kowalski said the fire started in the front room and when they arrived only two family members were outside.
"We found one child along with their dog inside the kitchen," Kowalski said.
Unfortunately, life saving measures were not successful.
Sheila Milbrath is another neighbor and said she saw the young boy during her walks with her German Shepard and he would wave and say he loved her dog.
"He just was always respectful. He was a respectful kid," Milbrath said.
A growing memorial of flowers and cards have been left by neighbors, and they want the family to know they are there to help.
Kowalski said the family did have smoke detectors in their home, and wants to urge all families to make sure they do and to have a safety plan in place.
"Make sure your also practicing fire drills in your home and multiple ways out," Kowalski said.
If you are do not have a smoke detector in your home, you can call the city of Milwaukee Smoke Detector Hotline at (414) 286-8980.
The circumstances of the fire are under investigation.
