Crime & Safety

UPDATED: No Injuries in House Fire on Washington Circle.

People were inside but everyone got out, and the fire was extinguished by 1:30 p.m.

No injuries were reported a house fire in the Washington Highlands neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire started in a second-floor bedroom and climbed into the attic of the Italianate residence at 6190 Washington Circle, Fire Chief Rob Ugaste said. It was reported at 12:42 p.m., Ugaste said. As of 1:10 p.m., some smoke was still billowing out of the crown of the roof and firefighters were smashing through the ornate tile roof with axes.

By 1:30 p.m., the fire was extinguished, fire officials said. However, firefighters remained on the scene cutting charred sections out of the roof.

Find out what's happening in Wauwatosawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

One resident was home at the time and escaped safely, Ugaste said.

Wauwatosa Assistant Fire Chief Scott Erke said that while the immediate cause of the fire was not yet known, it appeared that some type of work was being done in the home before the blaze started. There was scaffolding in place, some new materials present and dropcloths hanging in the upper room.

Find out what's happening in Wauwatosawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ugaste said damage to the home was estimated at $100,000.

Responding units were from Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, West Allis and the North Shore Fire Department.

The Milwaukee and North Shore units had been engaged in a training exercise in Milwaukee when the call went out and responded at the ready.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.