Officials battle coal fire at We Energies plant in Wauwatosa

WAUWATOSA -- Fire officials put out a fire at the We Energies Power Plant on Watertown Plank Road in Wauwatosa early Sunday morning, November 4th.

Officials say the fire involved approximately 100 pounds of coal confined within a 25-foot-deep hopper on the sixth floor of the building.

Foam from the Mitchell International Airport Fire Department was initially pumped up to the sixth floor using a 100-foot aerial ladder. Then, firefighters on the sixth floor used handlines to apply the foam to the hopper containing the burning coal.

Officials said this effort was initially successful but had to be stopped due to the danger of water in the foam impacting electrical panels on lower floors. Then, plant personnel manually removed the coal from the hopper, while firefighters were on standby to provide foam application if needed.

Officials say the situation was rendered under control, but will take multiple days to fully resolve.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

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