The fire broke out around 5:11 a.m. at a four-family apartment building at 704 Mansfield Court in Hartland, a Milwaukee suburb, according to the Hartland Police Department.
After encountering “a large amount of fire,” first responders began rescuing people from the building and its balconies.
According to Hartland Police Chief Torin Misko, at least seven people died in the fire.
It is unclear whether the fatalities occurred in a single unit or throughout the building.
Officials did not immediately release the number of people who lived in the building or the number of people who may have been injured.
To help provide aid and secure the building, 15 fire departments and nine police departments responded.
Misko stated that the fire is under “active criminal investigation,” but no further information on a possible cause was provided.
“This is a tragic incident for the community and the involved first responders,” Misko said. “We request that the community respect the families’ privacy.”
Along with the Wisconsin Crime Lab and the Waukesha Sheriff’s Office, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident.
