NEW HOLSTEIN, Wis. (WFRV) A New Holstein apartment complex is in rubble tonight after an early morning fire. One resident is calling his neighbor, 42 year old Nicole Masucci - who died in the fire, a hero after she knocked on other people's doors early this morning alerting them to the blaze. It happened at around 6:45AM. Six people were trapped inside.
Officials believe the fire started in the kitchen area of a first floor unit. Smoke filled the second floor and hours later firefighters were still trying to put it out. The fire caused the roof to cave in, trapping the blaze between the ceiling and roof. Not much is left of the building at this hour and many residents report losing all of their personal belongings and pets. The five surviving residents were injured and taken to a nearby hospital but have since been released.
The Red Cross is assisting with displaced residents. The State Fire Marshall has been called in to investigate.
One long-term resident at the complex, Rick Rutkowski, tells us the building had a history of electrical problems.
