Milwaukee warehouse fire, 32nd and Hampton; crews battle 5-alarm blaze

Milwaukee fire crews battle 5-alarm fire

Milwaukee firefighters battled a 5-alarm fire Wednesday night at a vacant warehouse near 32nd and Hampton.

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee firefighters battled a 5-alarm fire Wednesday night, May 20, at a vacant warehouse near 32nd and Hampton.

What we know:

The Milwaukee Fire Department said calls came in around 6:12 p.m., and crews were on scene in under five minutes.

FOX6 Estabrook Park tower camera shows smoke billowing from structure fire near 32nd and Hampton

No injuries were reported.

What they're saying:

"This is an all-hands-on-deck thing," Milwaukee fire chief Aaron Lipski said.

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Lipski said the building had been vacant for years and was built in a mill construction style, making it especially dangerous once engulfed in flames because of the amount of wood inside.

Fire near 32nd and Hampton, Milwaukee

Crews found fire on all four floors of the old building, Lipski said. The southwest corner of the building collapsed.

Lipski said investigators did not yet know what caused the fire. He said the building did not have gas or electricity, making the chances of something starting on its own "pretty slim."

Dig deeper:

The Milwaukee Police Department and MFD’s fire investigation unit were on scene.

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Firefighters were expected to remain on scene for several hours, with different companies rotating through the night to keep fire watch.

Fire Chief Aaron Lipski talks Milwaukee warehouse fire

Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski talks with FOX6 about the 5-alarm warehouse fire near 32nd and Hampton.

Statement from Holy Redeemer on fire

"Grace and peace be unto you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We write to you today with hearts anchored in faith and confidence in the sustaining power of Almighty God. At approximately 6:00 PM on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 a fire occurred at Bishops Creek, located at the corner of West Hampton Avenue and Bishop Daniels Way and north 32nd Street. The historic structure, formally a warehouse facility, stood as of Final remnant of the original 32nd St. industrial tannery complex.

As one of the earliest surviving structure, the building carried both historical and sentimental significance within the continuing narrative of our ministry and community development efforts. We remain in close collaboration with the Milwaukee fire department, and are deeply grateful for the swift and courageous response of all first responders who labored diligently throughout the evening.

We also extend our appreciation to neighboring residence and ministry partners who have already offered prayers, encouragement, and support. while moments, such as these naturally bring sorrow and reflection, we are reminded that our confidence has never rested in brick, mortar, or earthly structures alone. Our trust remains firmly rooted in the report of the Lord. The holy writ, in the rebuilding of Jerusalem, found in Nehemiah 4: 2-6, reminds us that revival is focus and that rebuilding can occur when the people have a mind to work.

As a ministry that embraces redevelopment, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing the work of the kingdom, serving the community, and ascending courageously to new horizons, especially as we approach our 40th anniversary. What has been impacted by fire shall, by the grace of God, will be renewed with even greater strength, purpose, and vision.

We humbly ask for your continued prayers as assessment and next steps proceed in the days ahead."