Sturtevant, WI – A late-night apartment fire in Racine County led to multiple rescues Wednesday, as authorities also investigated a separate incident involving reported gunfire and an allegedly stolen vehicle nearby.
According to the Racine County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 10:47 p.m. Wednesday to a multi-unit apartment building in the 3000 block of 86th Street after reports that a second-floor unit was fully engulfed in flames. Deputies immediately began evacuating residents, though heavy smoke and flames allegedly forced two deputies to exit after attempting entry into the unit where the fire originated.
The South Shore Fire Department responded and requested a Mutual Aid Box Alarm System activation, bringing in additional crews. Authorities established a staging area and began accounting for residents, initially reporting occupants from three apartments unaccounted for.
Firefighters later located and rescued a 64-year-old woman from the apartment believed to be the origin of the fire. She was transported to a Milwaukee-area hospital for treatment. Two deputies were also evaluated at a local hospital for possible smoke inhalation.
No other injuries were reported, though several residents were displaced. The American Red Cross assisted those affected, while pets were taken to local shelters.
As crews remained on scene early Thursday, deputies reported hearing multiple gunshots allegedly coming from the northwest of the fire scene around 3:11 a.m. Authorities also received a report of an allegedly stolen vehicle in the same area.
Deputies located the vehicle on State Highway 20 and took an 18-year-old Milwaukee man into custody. He was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and transported to Froedtert Hospital.
Both incidents remain under active investigation.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & Threads for more relevant new stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have a tip? Message us!
