'Please Find It In Your Heart' Waukesha Apartment Fire Victims Start Fundraisers

WAUKESHA, WI — After two people died and two more were seriously injured when an apartment fire left a multifamily building gutted, some victims have started fundraisers to pay for medical costs, funeral expenses or to get back on their feet.

A couple in their 50s died from injuries they suffered in the fire, according to multiple reports. A woman in her 20s remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, and two men in their 20s had minor injuries. Four more people, including two children, escaped the fire at 1211 Lambeth Road.

Andrew Vitella said his girlfriend was seriously injured in the blaze and started a fundraiser with a goal of $30,000 to cover medical expenses. He escaped the fire with enough time to warn his neighbors and get his girlfriend out of the building.

"We will also be using the money to get us back on our feet in this time of need," Vitella said in a post. "If you can, please find it in your heart to donate."

So far, the fundraiser has amassed over $9,000 dollars.

Crystal Marti's mother, sister and son escaped the fire, but she said her mother Arleen Sanchez lost everything. Marti started a separate fundraiser asking for $5,000.

"Anyone who knows her knows she is a sweetheart and this is very unfortunate," Marti said. "Material can be replaced but lives cannot!"

Katrina McQuade, who lost both of her parents, asked for support with funeral costs. "We lost everything," she said.

A software error delayed firefighters' response by five minutes when a program failed to send an automatic alert to nearby fire stations, the Waukesha Police Department said in a statement.

The city received the first call at 1:25 a.m. on Tuesday, but a staff member had to alert fire services manually, and firefighters arrived at 1:35 a.m.

See Also: Fatal Waukesha Fire: Software Error Delayed Response, Police Say

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