Firefighters Battle Menomonee Valley Recycling Plant Fire for Nearly 24 hours

US: Firefighters from Milwaukee and Wauwatosa battled a fire at a recycling facility in the Menomonee Valley for over 24 hours starting on Wednesday afternoon. The facility has had numerous calls from the fire department over the years, according to Fire Chief Aaron Lipski.

The fire chief did add that lithium-ion batteries have been a frequent cause of fires in Milwaukee and across the country, however Lipski said it's possible the cause of the fire may never be determined.

According to Lipski on Thursday, lithium-ion batteries are problematic right now since the regulatory environment has not been sufficiently regulated to ensure their safety. When they experience what is known as thermal runaway, there is not much that can be done because they are not being used or charged properly.

According to sources that a machine was on fire inside the building after the initial alarm at the Materials Recovery Facility, 1401 W. Mount Vernon Ave., rang at 1:48 p.m. on Wednesday, according to Lipski.

The Department of Public Works' Brian DeNeve said the fire began in a paper storage bunker, a holding container where the sorted grade of material gathers before being baled and hauled out. According to DeNeve, an additional fire suppression system was turned on. However, Lipski claimed that this fire originated in a location not covered by the suppression system. According to Lipski, all personnel were evacuated, and there have been no injuries recorded.

Lipski stated on Wednesday that the fire was quite deep-seated and that firefighters would have to "disassemble" the outside structure to combat it. Lipski stated that the Hazardous Materials Team would take air samples just west of the site to assure safety as the majority of what was burning was equipment and recyclables, including plastics and Rubber. He advised occupants of buildings close to the Valley to shut their windows.

According to Lipski, about 75 firemen from the Milwaukee Fire Department and Wauwatosa Fire Department contributed to extinguishing the fire. The plant has seen numerous fires throughout the years, including one in 2020, according to Lipski. Due to the frequent visits, the department and city collaborated to install fire suppression systems inside the building, although the system failed to do so. According to DeNeve, the heat also turned on the building's primary sprinkler system.

DeNeve stated that (DPW) is looking into options where to transport recyclable items if the MRF is not an option, acknowledging that where recycling is managed may need to be addressed owing to the damage. DeNeve stated that the operator would assess the damage's full extent and its anticipated impact on operations once the fire is under control and the building has been declared safe. According to DeNeve, residents should carry on with their regular recycling routine and cart collection schedule.

ReCommunity Recycling, a private business, manages recycling at the Materials Recovery Facility for the City of Milwaukee and 25 towns in Waukesha County. After the city made renovations and installed new equipment, the facility started operating recently in 2015. Recycling is now managed within the city as it was before 2011, thanks to the retrofitting. Recycling was managed at the Germantown Waste Management site between 2011 and 2015. Smoke from a fire at the adjacent Alter Metal Recycling in 2021 filled American Family Field as the Brewers were playing.