Maureen Green, Verna Richards Cause Of Death: Fifth victim confirmed dead in Milwaukee five-alarm apartment fire.
Maureen Green, Verna Richards Cause Of Death – A devastating five-alarm fire tore through the Highland Court Apartments in Milwaukee’s Concordia neighborhood early Sunday morning, claiming the lives of five residents and leaving many others injured or displaced. The fire broke out just before 8 a.m. on May 11 at the apartment complex near 27th Street and Highland Boulevard, prompting a massive emergency response.
By early Monday, Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski confirmed that a fifth individual had succumbed to injuries sustained in the blaze. While four of the victims have been publicly identified, including 40-year-old Torrell Coleman, 62-year-old Verna Richards, 76-year-old Mark Chaffin, and 67-year-old Maureen Green (who died later at the hospital), the fifth victim—a woman who died in a hallway—has yet to be officially identified.
The fire has had wide-reaching effects beyond the fatalities. Around 100 residents have been displaced from the now-uninhabitable building. The American Red Cross has stepped in to assist, providing temporary shelter at Holler Park on 6th Street in Milwaukee. Displaced residents are encouraged to reach out to the Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS for support.
The fire, which engulfed the 85-unit, four-story building, resulted in chaos and emergency rescues. Medics were seen performing CPR on-site, and several residents were carried out on stretchers. Four people were reported to be in critical condition as of Monday. Approximately 30 residents were rescued by firefighters using ladders from the upper floors. Others were forced to take desperate measures to survive.
One such resident, Eddie Edwards, recounted how he jumped from a fourth-floor balcony to escape the flames. “I wasn’t thinking about nothing but getting away,” he said, adding that he landed on his feet. Demonstrating further bravery, Edwards also helped save a toddler whose mother tossed the child from a window to escape. “I said just toss the baby right there, just toss him to me and I’ll catch him,” Edwards recounted.
The fire’s origin remains under active investigation by the Milwaukee Fire Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the State Fire Marshal, and Milwaukee Police. Fire investigators, along with an arson detection dog, spent more than 12 hours at the scene on Sunday and returned Monday to continue their work.
There are reports from residents that a dispute may have preceded the fire. One witness, Tony Panosian, said he heard an argument in a third-floor hallway shortly before the blaze broke out. Panosian attempted to extinguish the flames with a fire extinguisher but said it was already too late. “It was too totally involved,” he said.
The apartment building’s owner, Jeri Robinson, who also lives in the complex, confirmed that she had heard about a fight breaking out before the fire started. As of Monday, she was unable to access her own unit due to the ongoing investigation and damage assessment. “I guess it’s a crime-scene investigation, we can’t go back in,” she said.
One major concern that emerged following the tragedy is the building’s lack of sprinklers in residential units. The complex was built before 1974 and was therefore grandfathered in, exempting it from modern sprinkler system requirements. Chief Lipski was vocal about how this may have worsened the outcome. “If we had sprinklers in the building, we would’ve stopped the fire,” he said. “We would not have had to have people jumping out of windows. We would not have had to pull people out of windows. We would not have had to drag people down hallways to rescue them, and we would not have had four fatalities today.”
City officials have also responded to the tragedy. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson visited the scene and spoke with firefighters and residents on Sunday. He later expressed his condolences and support through a message on social media, saying, “My thoughts are with those affected by this tragedy.”
As investigations continue, the city and emergency agencies are focused on providing relief and answers to the residents of Highland Court Apartments. The heartbreaking incident has also renewed discussions around fire safety standards, especially concerning older buildings that do not meet current code requirements.
While the community grapples with the loss of life and the trauma experienced by survivors, there is a growing push for accountability and a thorough review of the circumstances that led to such a devastating outcome. Residents and officials alike are demanding a full investigation and potential policy changes to prevent a similar tragedy in the future.
