A five-alarm fire that erupted at a U-Haul storage facility in Milwaukee's south side prompted a massive response from fire departments, as they worked through the night to control the blaze. According to the Journal Sentinel, the fire department received reports of the fire around 6:44 p.m. yesterday, at the intersection of S. 1st Street and W. Orchard Street. Crews faced harsh conditions as they battled the significant fire, which generated heavy smoke and caused parts of the roof to collapse.
Frigid temperatures and wind compounded the challenge for the first responders, creating slippery surfaces that hindered their efforts. In a statement obtained by WTMJ, it was reported that due to the weather conditions and size of the fire, firefighters transitioned from an interior attack to a more defensive posture, focusing on extinguishing the fire from the outside. The flames were so intense that additional fire departments were called to assist. Despite these efforts, no injuries have been reported at the time officials spoke on the matter.
Roads surrounding the facility at 1500 S. 1st St. were closed, with police tape cordoning off the area while a small stream of smoke remained visible the following day. The extent of the damage has yet to be disclosed as fire investigation teams moved in to determine the cause of the fire, which, as of the latest updates, remains under investigation. Assistant Chief Schuyler Belott told the Journal Sentinel, "No injuries have been reported," also noting that firefighters had searched nearby buildings to ensure the fire had not spread, and no one was trapped.
After more than 13 hours, firefighters continued to work on the site, tackling persistent hot spots within the destroyed facility. The magnitude of the fire warranted a five-alarm designation, with fire command audio describing the urgency of the situation as reported by WISN: "First street command. We'll take a 5th alarm. Extension into additional exposure buildings." This is not the first time the facility faced such peril; a three-alarm fire also threatened the same location back in 2016. As crews continued their fire watch this morning, power was eventually restored to nearby traffic lights, signaling a slow return to normalcy in the affected area.
