PORTAGE, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – A fire at a Portage recycling and waste processing facility prompted at least eight firefighters to be dispatched on Sunday afternoon.
At least 30 to 40 firemen from Sauk, Marquette, and Columbia counties responded, according to Portage Fire Chief Troy Haase.
“We arrived, we had heavy fire smoke coming from the building,” Haase said. “Of course, we began attacks on the fire.”
Haase says around 6:30 p.m., firefighters were in a “defensive mode” trying to put out the fire by hauling garbage out of the plant, putting the flames out, and moving it to a separate area.
“Anytime you’re dealing with garbage…you can’t make any penetration on it,” Haase said. “So, what you’re trying to do is move it out, put the fire out and move it to another location. It’s a good possibility we may have to come back for the pile that we’re moving outside right now. But at least we’re moving away from the rest of the building.”
Since the plant is closed on Sundays, Haase believes that anything in the pile may have sparked the fire, which continued spread over time.
“Yesterday was the last day they were open, probably hadn’t dumped since maybe Friday,” Haase said. “It’s just one of those things that probably started as a smoldering fire and then spread.”
Haase says that the structure is a total loss. If hotspots start to appear after Sunday night’s attempt to put out the fire, the crews will return on Monday.
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