No injuries reported after fire in coal-handling silo at We Energies' Oak Creek Power Plant

OAK CREEK (WITI) -- A We Energies spokesman tells FOX6 News no injuries were reported after a fire Sunday, January 25th at the Oak Creek Power Plant.

Fire officials say the call came in just before 2:00 p.m.

We're told there was a fire that has been extinguished. A battalion chief with the Oak Creek Fire Department couldn't confirm the initial report of an explosion. A We Energies spokesman says the fire started in a coal-handling silo that feeds the newest generators on the north side of the power plant's campus.

The power plant is a coal-based plant that operates 24 hours a day.

Fire officials take these types of incidents seriously because of the large volume of combustible materials inside. About a half-dozen departments were called in for backup.

Fire protection vents opened during the blaze as designed to help contain the fire.

"Anytime we're dealing with coal -- coal is a fuel. There is a hazard associated with it, with the fire fight. As far as it being up -- at an elevated level, you have to grab your equipment, you have to fight that fire from an elevated area. There's some techniques associated with that," Oak Creek Fire Battalion Chief Joe Pulvermacher said.

A We Energies' spokesman says there was no disruption of service to customers during this incident.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.

CLICK HERE to learn more about We Energies' Oak Creek Power Plant.