MILWAUKEE - One man is fighting for his life after fire broke out at the 14-story senior citizen apartment building on the east side.

More than 100 people live in the Cambridge Apartments at 1831 N. Cambridge.

 The blaze started in the kitchen of an 11th floor apartment. The two people living in the unit were overcome with smoke.  Both were taken to Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital on North Avenue.

 Milwaukee Deputy Fire Chief Randall Zingler told TODAY’S TMJ4: “We had two people that were removed from the building.  We do have one gentleman in critical condition.”

 A few other residents also suffered smoke inhalation.

Ann Perry says she and her neighbors rushed down flights of stairs to get out. “All we heard were the alarms and when we went outside we saw smoke coming out from the window.”

As residents rushed out… fire crews rushed in.

“You have guys dressed in a hundred pounds of gear lugging another hundred pounds of equipment and you have to take stairs up to the 11th floor ,” said Dep. Chief Zingler.

Because more than 100 elderly people live in the residence the fire was raised to third alarm, so extra crews would be sent to help out.  People who live in the high-rise building say the evacuation could have been much worse.

“It was orderly fashion,” said Perry. “And those that needed assistance we just helped then along the way.”

Firefighters did not have to evacuate the entire building since the fire was put out so quickly. Most residents were expected to be able to spend the night in their apartments.

The Red Cross is helping  those who need a place to stay.