Firefighters Battle Large Fire at Alter Metal Recycling in La Crosse

The La Crosse (Wisconsin) Fire Department reports no injuries following a large fire at Alter Metal Recycling on April 2.

Firefighters responded at 5 p.m. to a large fire and heavy black smoke coming from the scrap yard.

According to a release from Battalion Chief Jeff Schott, due to the volume of scrap cars and limited access to the area, fire crews flowed water from master streams and aerial apparatus, using several thousand gallons of water per minute. The fire took almost two hours to control.

Once they had the fire under control, firefighters worked with Alter employees specially trained to operate equipment and move cars to extinguish hotspots. The release reports an estimated 100 cars were in flames at one point and 24 firefighters were on scene.

Xcel Energy remotely shut down high voltage transmission lines located directly above the scrap yard. One adjacent business evacuated its building and another neighboring business sheltered employees inside due to heavy smoke, reported Madison.com.

Investigation into the incident is ongoing.