CAMPBELL, Wis. — Firefighters have extinguished a massive blaze at a western Wisconsin recycling facility after a battle that went on for more than 20 hours.
The fire broke out at Omaha Track in the town of Campbell on French Island, just outside the city of La Crosse, around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. The facility grinds scrap railway ties and other materials into chips that can be used as biofuel.
Flames and smoke from the fire could be seen for miles. Campbell Fire Chief Nate Melby says four football fields’ worth of railway ties and a 30-foot (9.14 meter) high mound of chips burned.
Multiple fire departments battled the blaze throughout the day before finally extinguishing it around 11 p.m. Tuesday, Melby said.
No one was hurt and no residents had to be evacuated or shelter in place, Melby said. A north wind blew most of the smoke away from residential areas, he said.
“It was a very large fire with a lot of fuel,” the chief said. “The positive aspect is we were able to manage it with other agencies and nobody got hurt.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A similar fire erupted at Omaha Track in 2015 after a woodchipper caught fire, WKBT-TV reported. That blaze released toxins into the air that forced residents to shelter in place.
No one immediately responded to an email The Associated Press left in Omaha Track’s general corporate inbox Wednesday seeking comment.
Omaha Track Chief Growth Officer Lisa Roberts, who is listed on the company’s website as the contact for the Campbell facility, responded to an email seeking comment by saying she had forwarded the request to Jillianne Gates, the company’s communications manager. Gates had not responded as of early afternoon Wednesday.
Firefighters in western Wisconsin recently faced a challenging battle as they worked to extinguish a fire at a recycling facility in the area. The blaze broke out in the early hours of the morning, and it quickly spread throughout the facility, engulfing piles of recyclable materials and creating a thick plume of smoke that could be seen for miles.
The firefighters arrived on the scene to find a massive inferno raging out of control, fueled by the flammable materials stored at the facility. Despite the difficult conditions, the firefighters immediately went to work, deploying hoses and water cannons to try to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
The battle to extinguish the fire was a lengthy one, with firefighters working tirelessly for hours on end to bring the blaze under control. The intense heat and smoke made it difficult for them to get close to the flames, but they persevered, using all of their training and expertise to fight the fire and protect nearby structures.
After several hours of hard work, the firefighters were finally able to get the upper hand on the blaze. They were able to contain the fire to the recycling facility itself, preventing it from spreading to neighboring buildings or causing any injuries to nearby residents.
The successful extinguishment of the fire was a testament to the skill and dedication of the firefighters who responded to the scene. Their quick thinking and bravery allowed them to bring the situation under control and prevent any further damage from occurring.
In the aftermath of the fire, investigators are working to determine the cause of the blaze and assess the extent of the damage to the recycling facility. The owners of the facility are also working closely with authorities to ensure that proper safety measures are in place to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future.
Overall, the successful extinguishment of the fire at the recycling facility in western Wisconsin is a reminder of the important role that firefighters play in keeping our communities safe. Their bravery and dedication in the face of danger are truly commendable, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for their service.
