COMBINED LOCKS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — After more than 24 hours, a fire has finally been put out and all crews have been released from the scene after a large warehouse fire in Combined Locks.
“My mother-in-law texted me and said ‘don’t be alarmed, but the warehouse is on fire,’” said Adrianne Van Asten, a current Combined Locks resident.
Van Asten was on her way home from work Friday, when a fire stared at Warehouse Specialists Incorporated Supply Chain Solutions.
“Didn’t really think anything of it until we saw all the firetrucks and police cars and I only know one way home and I couldn’t get home that way,” said Van Asten.
Friday, around 10:25 in the morning, Combined Locks and Buchanan Fire rescue, along with police and ambulance help were dispatched to WSI on Prospect Street for a report of a fire.
It involved paper pulp bales; bundles of raw materials for paper manufacturing.
The water system wasn’t able to keep up with the demand, so a tender strike force was requested. A fill site was set up at Kimberly’s Sunset Park.
Officials in Combined Locks asked residents near the warehouse fire to evacuate voluntarily for the next couple of days because of the smoke. But Van Asten decided to stay.
“We talked to a couple of neighbors and they decided to stay too,” said Van Asten. “We didn’t think we in real immediate danger. We just decided to stay in and keep the windows shut, vents shut, doors shut.”
Dave Pennings has lived in Combined Locks for 62 years. He says he has a special connection to the warehouse.
“My son-in-law’s father was one of the originators of the warehouse, and a matter of fact my son-in-law Joe was manager of this warehouse for a while,” said Pennings. “I couldn’t believe where all the sirens were from. It’s kind of close to us, we hate to see it go.”
According to Combined Locks Fire and Rescue, at any given time, nine engines, 25 tankers, and three ladder trucks were on the scene.
An estimated 67 departments came to help battle the fire.
“Kudos to all the firefighters, all the crews all over the state,” said Van Asten. “It’s been really nice to see and they coordinated it all so well.”
Combined Locks Public Safety says the fire does not appear to be suspicious or intentional. There were no injuries sustained to civilians or firefighters.
A dollar amount on the total damage was not readily available as of Saturday, according to the Combined Locks fire chief.
