MILWAUKEE — A 22-year-old woman has been arrested in connection to a five-alarm fire that destroyed a vacant warehouse in Milwaukee Wednesday night. Milwaukee police say she handled burning material, which caused the fire to start.
The Milwaukee Fire Department was called to the fire around 6:12 p.m. Wednesday at 4777 N. 32nd St. Firefighters remained on scene for several hours.
Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said wind conditions were one reason the blaze was hard to extinguish.
"Another problem we ran into is all the embers. This is an old mill-style building, so all the structure, all the flooring, all the walls are solid wood," he said.
According to Lipski, the building did not have active electricity or gas running to it that could have caused the fire.
Watch: Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski provides update following fire at vacant warehouse
"We have absolutely no idea what might have caused this, but I can tell you with certainty there was no electricity and no gas heat to this building, so the chances of something just spontaneously starting on fire are quite slim," Lipski told reporters at the scene.
Lipski noted the investigation will be complicated by the condition of the building.
"We do have serious building collapse concerns even after the fire is extinguished," he said.
No injuries have been reported at this time; however, Lipski noted they aren't sure if anyone was inside the building when the fire started.
The portion of W. Hampton Ave. and N. 32nd St. near the building will remain closed as crews work to remove debris, Alderwoman Andrea M. Pratt says.
“We are very lucky that no one was injured or killed in this catastrophic fire and partial building collapse, and I want to thank the Milwaukee Fire Department for their efforts in battling the flames and getting the chaotic scene under control,” the alderwoman said. “I ask residents for patience as the demolition and debris removal moves forward.”
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