Massive fire south of Milwaukee
July 7th, 2009 at 10:18 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Weather
For the past two days 130 firefighters have worked 15-hour shifts to extinguish a massive fire south of Milwaukee at the Patrick Cudahy meat plant. They’ve been hampered by winds gusting over 20 mph. At least 10 million gallons of water have been poured on the blaze. Fires release a lot of particulates, which can be picked up by weather radars. The smoke plume from the fire could clearly be seen on the Milwaukee radar extending out 40 miles over Lake Michigan. Hundreds of people around the plant were evacuated because of leaking ammonia, which is used as a refrigerant at the plant. Five people were treated at a local hospital for breathing problems. The prevailing wind has taken the smoke plume toward northwest Indiana. Authorities say the smoke plume has well dispersed by the time it crosses Lake Michigan and there is no threat to people living in Indiana or Michigan. At least 2,000 people are employed at the 117-year-old plant.
Sorry to hear about not only the plant being on fire but the chance that people will be out of work for a while (I think that management might be over optimistic when the plant might be ready to get back up)
I just have to ask! will there be a sale on smoked meat? and do that produce smoked pork chops?
SlimJim
Jim – when does management say the plant is coming back up? I have some friend over there, but all that the company is releasing on their website indicates they have no ETA.
Rob, it might be old in the story (on Bill’s blog above)for what must be ch 4 over there:
Dan Habighorst, the plant’s vice president of human resources, said the fire started on the fourth floor, which weakened and collapsed into the floor below. Cardboard and other paper materials in that area ignited, refueling the flames.
“I’d always get encouraged when the smoke got white, but then it’d turn black,” Habighorst said, noting the third and second floors also may have collapsed.
Despite the damage, Habighorst initially said less than half the plant that covers about 1.4 million square feet was affected, and operations could resume in unaffected areas by the end of the week. Later he said managers and clerical workers would return Tuesday but he couldn’t estimate when production might resume
SlimJim
Hopefully they can rebuild. Bill the ISS is going to be overhead tonight during the 11 pm newscast.
Where is Jennifer K?