MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) – Manitowoc Police are releasing more information about a fatal apartment fire that happened Wednesday afternoon.
The blaze started on a third floor at Parkview Haven apartment complex at 1325 N. 8th Street.
It took firefighters around 30 minutes to get the blaze under control and that’s when they found a woman’s body.
The victim has been identified as 57-year-old Dana Bushman.
An autopsy was performed in Fond du Lac.
Fire Chief Todd Blaser says “to be honest, I don’t know all the results. There’s some different toxicology report that does continue as well.”
Captain Larry Zimney says the community has pulled together to help out.
“The local Piggly Wiggly really helped out with providing water to firefighters and other people affected. The Salvation Army was fantastic. The Red Cross is chipping in,” said Zimney.
Officials say 88 residents were evacuated and transported to Lincoln Park by Manitowoc Metro Transit bus and Brandt Bus.
About 50 of those residents were placed in the Harbor Town Hotel for the night, with the other residents staying with friends or relatives.
Those with nowhere to stay have since been moved to the gymnasium inside Manitowoc’s Wilson Junior High School.
According to Blaser, “the length of stay (at the school) is unknown at this time. The investigative work ended (Thursday) early evening so they really just a chance to get in there as far as a cleanup company goes at the apartment complex.”
“It could be some time. Right now there’s no electricity to the building. There’s water damage to some areas of the building, smoke damage,” Zimney explained.
Although the fire was mostly contained to the third floor of the apartment complex, there was significant damage to the area between the ceiling of the apartment and the trusses leading to the roof above the apartment.
A property damage estimate is not known at this time.
The fire is under investigation by Manitowoc Police and DCI Fire Marshalls.
