West Allis-West Milwaukee DPW fire, building under construction
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 is at the scene near 53rd and Burnham, where the West Allis and West Milwaukee municipal boundaries meet. Large plumes of thick, dark smoke could be seen from as far away as I-94.
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West Allis Assistant Fire Chief Armando Suarez Del Real said there were reports of smoke and fire coming from the building's roof. No injuries have been reported. There was no DPW equipment inside the building.
Multiple agencies, including the West Allis, Greenfield, Milwaukee and Wauwatosa fire departments, responded to the three-alarm fire.
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. It's not clear how many people were present at the construction site when the fire started.
Large fire near 52nd and Burnham (Aug. 20, 2026)
New DPW building
Big picture view:
Construction on the more than 223,000-square-foot facility broke ground in 2024 and is expected to be finished this year, according to the City of West Allis. The cost has been estimated at $65–80 million.
West Milwaukee structure fire; West Allis assistant fire chief provides brief
Armando Suarez Del Real, the assistant chief for the West Allis Fire Department, provided an update on a three-alarm fire at the future site of the West Allis-West Milwaukee DPW building.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Source: FOX6 News went to the scene of the fire. Information is from the West Allis Fire Department and City of West Allis.