1990 Press Photo Fire Destroys North Side Duplex in Milwaukee - mjb21561

An electrical short probably caused a fire that destroyed a North Side duplex in Milwaukee and left its four occupants homeless Wednesday morning, according to Battalion Chief Daniel Gengler. Bergie Smith, 28, her daughter Lavetta, 13, Mike Williams, 35, and an unidentified, 32-year-old woman escaped the blaze at 2403-05 N. 29th St. Bergie Smith smelled smoke coming from a rear storage room in her first floor apartment and reported the fire at 5:36 a.m. Because the front door was open, creating a natural draft, the fire spread quickly through the building, firefighters said. Damage was estimated at $51,000.

Photo is dated 1990.

Photo measures 9.25 x 6.25 inches.