West Allis-West Milwaukee DPW fire, building under construction
West Allis-West Milwaukee DPW fire, building under construction
A three-alarm fire broke out at the under-construction West Allis-West Milwaukee Department of Public Works building on Thursday morning, Aug. 20. It happened near 53rd and Burnham.
WEST ALLIS, Wis. - A three-alarm fire broke out at the under-construction West Allis-West Milwaukee Department of Public Works building on Thursday morning, Aug. 20.
53rd and Burnham fire
What we know:
FOX6 News was at the scene near 53rd and Burnham, where the West Allis and West Milwaukee municipal boundaries meet. The fire started around 10:30 a.m. and was contained roughly two hours later.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
"We could literally see the flames shooting out of the top of the building," Christopher Cich, who witnessed flames, said. "Just a gigantic solid black plume."
"It was like all black smoke coming from the air," Mariah Bland, a neighbor, said.
PHOTO GALLERY: West Allis-West Milwaukee DPW fire
West Allis Assistant Fire Chief Armando Suarez Del Real said there were reports of smoke and fire coming from the building's roof. Contractors were working on the site of the new building at the time, and construction materials were visibly charred on the roof.
Everyone was evacuated, and no one was injured. There was no DPW equipment inside the building.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
Multiple agencies, including the West Allis, Greenfield, Milwaukee and Wauwatosa fire departments, responded to the three-alarm fire.
"When you have a fire this size, it’s going to require a lot of extra help," Suarez Del Real said.
What we don't know:
Suarez Del Real said the cause and origin of the fire are not known at this time because the firefight is active. The extent of the damage, and the cost to repair it, is not yet known.
Drone footage: West Allis-West Milwaukee DPW building fire
A fire broke out at the under-construction West Allis-West Milwaukee DPW building.
New DPW building
Big picture view:
Construction on the more than 223,000-square-foot facility broke ground in 2024 and was set to be finished in October, according to the City of West Allis. The cost has been estimated at $65–80 million.
"It’s very disappointing and frustrating, but also at the same time seeing not only the West Allis firefighters and the West Allis police doing what they do, as well as the neighboring jurisdictions coming in and helping out, it’s just a really good example of how departments work together," said West Allis Mayor Dan Devine.
The Source: FOX6 News went to the scene of the fire. Information is from the West Allis Fire Department, City of West Allis and interviews.