Crews battle 3-alarm fire at site of future DPW building in West Allis
WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Fire crews from several surrounding communities battled a three-alarm fire Thursday morning, at the site of what will eventually be West Allis' new public works facility.
The fire, which started around 10:30 a.m. near S. 53rd St. and W. Burnham Street, produced a towering mix of smoke and flames. The smoke was visible from at least 10 miles away.
"I saw flames at least 40 to 50 feet high and all the black plumes of smoke," Ed Irving, who lives and works at an apartment complex across the street, said. "And it was getting bigger and bigger. I was expecting something to blow up, but it didn't. Thank God."
Fire officials confirmed nobody was hurt. Dozens of construction workers were able to evacuate the site of the new public works facility project.
People living at the nearby apartments watched closely as fire crews shot water from ladder trucks positioned on different sides of the huge structure.
"It was really dark. Dark smoke," 12-year-old Gloria Coeban said. "I was kind of scared it was gonna come toward the building."
Firefighters from West Allis, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee and Greenfield were able to contain the flames.
By noon, the fire was largely contained, and by 3 p.m., Burnham Street reopened to traffic.
"Obviously, our department itself has limited capabilities based on the number of units," West Allis Asst. Fire Chief Armando Suarez Del Real said. "So, when you have a fire that's this size, it's gonna require a lot of extra help."
Suarez Del Real said it was too soon to know what caused the fire or where exactly it started in the building.
He added the flames and smoke appeared to be coming from the roof.
Irving said he was impressed by the coordination the responding fire crews showed within minutes of arriving.
"The fire department, they came from all directions," he said. "And they worked hand-in-hand in unison to put those flames out."
West Allis and Wauwatosa are in the process of merging their fire departments, with the goal to begin operations as a single agency sometime next year.
West Allis Mayor Dan Devine said the new combined public works facility was set to open this fall, but those plans likely went up in smoke Thursday.
"I think I can comfortably say there's gonna be a delay," Devine said. "But I don't know right now how long that will be."
The fire is another setback for the public works facility project. It was previously delayed by the discovery of foundation issues at the site.
"I think when you have a large project like this, you always expect some things to go wrong in some capacity or some magnitude," Devine said. "But this one seems to have had more than its fair share, so I'm just hoping after this one that we're gonna be smooth sailing toward the opening."
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story initially said West Allis will share the facility with West Milwaukee. That is incorrect, according to the West Milwaukee village president. The project belongs strictly to West Allis.