Chemical-soaked rags caused Lincoln Avenue School fire, Milwaukee Fire Department reports
CBS 58 MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Chemical cleaning rags piled up in a garbage can are believed to have sparked a fire that destroyed Lincoln Avenue School in Milwaukee.
The fire broke out early Tuesday, June 30 and was quickly upgraded to a five-alarm fire.
Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Aaron Lipski said Monday, Aug. 10, there is no evidence to suggest this was an arson fire but "sadly, there was human error involved."
According to Chief Lipski, Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) provided video footage from inside the school which proved to be "invaluable" to fire investigators.
Lincoln Avenue School destroyed by fire
Lincoln Avenue School destroyed by fire
Lipski said the investigation revealed the custodial staff was cleaning the building, getting ready for the new school year. But chemical-soaked rags left inside garbage car in a second-floor hallway caught fire.
MFD says the hot and humid weather could have been the reason the rags caught on fire and the fire was so hard to fight.
The fire spread to desks, bookshelves, tables and chairs across the hallway. Because of the condition of the building, fire crews relied on drones and outside visuals to find smaller hotspots.
Officials say sprinklers could have made a difference but say installing sprinklers is a long process.
“There are probably many, many older buildings that don’t yet have sprinklers and I’ll just say this outright, their [MPS] Superintendent Cassellius has been here just a couple short years. There is not a human being on earth that could have gotten all these buildings sprinklers in that timeframe," said Chief Lipski.
Milwaukee Public Schools say it is taking additional precautions.
Chemical-soaked rags must be placed in fireproof metal containers.
The district is also limiting the use of oil-based chemicals.
MPS says the total cost of the damages is unknown but says the price tag of a new elementary school averages around $50 million.
The entire Lincoln Avenue School community will attend classes together at Pulaski High School for the upcoming school year.
