New Push by Wisconsin Lawmakers Aims to Prevent Apartment Fires

Wednesday, October 29th, 2025 -- 9:01 AM

(Evan Casey, Wisconsin Public Radio) A new push by Wisconsin lawmakers aims to prevent apartment fires like the one that killed five people and displaced around 100 others in Milwaukee in May.

According to Evan Casey with the Wisconsin Public Radio, A new bill would offer grants to Wisconsin landlords to put fire sprinkler systems in their buildings. Another bill, introduced by Democratic state lawmakers on Monday, would allow local municipalities the ability to pass ordinances requiring apartment buildings of any age be equipped with sprinkler systems.

The Milwaukee fire happened at a building constructed in 1968 that was not required to have a sprinkler system. By state law, they are required in buildings taller than 60 feet built since 1974.

“This tragedy was not an isolated incident,” state Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, said Monday at a press conference. “Fires in multi-family buildings have taken lives and destroyed homes all across the state.”

Under the grant proposal, the state Department of Administration would create a $10 million grant program for landlords to use to help put a fire sprinkler system in their building.

Johnson said she knows installing those systems can be costly. “We want to make sure that the landlords don’t have to pass that cost off to tenants,” Johnson said.

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