Aug. 26, 2023 9:25p; Updated 8-27
(WGTD)---A 16-unit, two-story apartment building on Kenosha's far south side was destroyed by fire late Saturday afternoon. No one was injured
The first firefighters to arrive at the Arlington Apts at 8830 39th Ave. spotted smoke coming from the eastern-most portion of the roof of the brick building. Flames could be seen shooting up from the structure shortly after firefighters, using a chainsaw, cut a hole in the roof.
Even though firefighters trained aerial hoses on the building, the fire appeared to spread rapidly in the brisk breeze. After making sure no one was left inside, firefighters were ordered out due to safety concerns.
Battalion Chief Scott Krueger said Sunday night that the cause remains under investigation, and that investigators are still trying to conclusively determine where the blaze began.
21-year-old David Brito, who lived on the building's top floor, says he awoke from a nap to spot smoke coming from the air vents in his apartment and hear glass breaking. "I went out and saw firefighters going through another apartment, actually breaking into the apartment," Brito said. "So I got out of there as quickly as possible. "I don't know where it started originally and don't know how it started," he said.
Brito, who works at Amazon, said he had lived in the building for less than a year.
A total of 21 tenants were displayed by the fire, according to the fire department.
Firefighters from surrounding departments were called in to man the city's empty fire houses as all trucks and personnel resources were dispatched to the fire scene.
According to city records, the apartment building was built in 1976. It last sold in 2020 for a little over $1.2 million.
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