THE PATRICK CUDAHY MEAT PACKING PLANT FIRE in Cudahy, Wisconsin, continues to burn this morning and fire officials believe that it could last until Wednesday. The fire that we first reported on HERE began around 9:25 pm Sunday and got into the void area between the plant’s ceiling and roof, above the sprinkler system.
Journal Sentinal
As the fire spread through the void, part of the roof later collapsed and took out part of the sprinkler system. As of Tuesday morning there have been almost 30 assisting fire departments on the scene of the general-alarm fire and the city’s water supply has been virtually depleted after nearly 9 million gallons have been applied on the blaze. About noon Monday, the Milwaukee Water Works opened a valve to start pumping water to the Cudahy Fire Department, said Cecilia Gilbert, spokeswoman for the Milwaukee Department of Public Works. Cudahy is not a regular Water Works customer but has a deal with Milwaukee to obtain water in an emergency.
WTMJ-TV interviewed some of the fire officers in this report that includes fire footage:
The residents within a mile of the fire were evacuated yesterday because of the ammonia leaks and other hazards, but they are being allowed back into most of their homes today. Many of the businesses in town are expected to be permitted to open today also.
Journal Sentinal
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal reports:
About 5 p.m. Monday, more than 20 hours into the effort, officials projected it would take another 24 to 36 hours of firefighting to douse the flames in a sprawling complex of 1.4 million square feet, built in sections over more than a century. Officials suspect the fire started in an unused area in the plant and may have been fueled by cardboard and plastic packaging materials in a nearby storage space.
Cudahy Mayor Ryan McCue declared a state of emergency in the city of 19,000 people about midday Monday, calling for assistance from the state and neighboring cities.
Officials directed residents living within a mile of the plant on One Sweet Applewood Way to evacuate, primarily because of the threat posed by anhydrous ammonia stored in the plant and used to chill the products made there. More than 200 displaced Cudahy residents spent the day at South Milwaukee High School before the evacuation order was lifted about 7 p.m.
WTMJ-TV gave this update report at 11 pm last night:
Higher-than-normal winds Monday confounded the firefighting efforts as they continually rekindled the flames after the FF’s would knock them down. The Journal Sentinal also lists the existing hazards that are facing the FD as they fight the fire:
- 177,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia under pressure.
- 800,000 pounds of lard.
- 250,000 pounds of brown food grease stored in several buildings.
- 150,000 pounds of cardboard and paper packaging.
There is a news conference scheduled for 11 am Central time to update the situation.
Firegeezer will be updating periodically.
Recent Comments