Two firefighters hurt battling 3-alarm fire in Milwaukee



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Two firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling a three-alarm fire on Milwaukee's north side late Saturday, March 16th.

The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. near Fond du Lac and North Avenues.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, the two-story building was engulfed in flames. Three buildings nearby had to be evacuated because of the danger of the fire.

When crews first arrived on scene, they tried attacking the fire from inside, but the fire was too strong, so they backed out and continued to attempt to put the fire out from the outside. Fire crews continued to battle this blaze throughout the night.

During the process of putting out the fire from outside, two firefighters were on a ladder held up against the building to try and provide ventilation when water from another hose on the opposite side of the building hit the ladder and pushed it over, causing the firefighters to fall with it. They received relatively minor injuries.

A water main break in the neighborhood complicated the job for the firefighters. That's because they did not have the use of several fire hydrants.

Officials say the inside of the building is completely gutted out and there is $1.9 million in damage.

The cause of this fire remains under investigation.



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