KENOSHA, Wis. – A large fire tore through a vacant industrial building Sunday night, sending flames through the roof of the former North American Salt Plant at 4500 13th Court.
The Kenosha Fire Department was dispatched around 8:40 p.m. after multiple reports of a structure fire. Kenosha police officers arrived first and confirmed that the building was fully engulfed in flames. When fire crews arrived moments later, they found heavy fire showing through the roof of the sprawling complex.
Due to the intensity of the fire and the condition of the building, a defensive attack was launched from outside. Crews worked quickly to keep the blaze from spreading to nearby structures.
Firefighters brought the fire under control by 9:18 p.m. The building sustained significant damage, but no injuries were reported among firefighters or civilians. It was confirmed that no one was inside the structure at the time of the fire.
This is the second fire at the property this year. The site, once home to North American Salt operations, has sat vacant for years and has been a repeated target for trespassers and vandalism.
According to the Kenosha Police Department, witnesses at the scene reported hearing what sounded like fireworks inside the building and saw five teenaged boys fleeing the area on bicycles. Officers were able to locate three of the boys shortly after the incident. The remaining two voluntarily turned themselves in at the Kenosha Police Department. All five juveniles are 16 years old.
Each teen was charged with one count of disorderly conduct and one count of negligent handling of burning materials, both misdemeanor offenses. They were released into the custody of their parents.
The incident remains under joint investigation by the Kenosha Police Department and the Kenosha Fire Department.
Fire crews from Pleasant Prairie, Somers, Bristol, and Newport, Illinois assisted at the scene and helped staff city fire stations during the incident. The Kenosha Police Department also provided support on scene.
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5 Responses
title needs correction, west = east
you’re welcome
(hey downvotes eat a bag)
Well that ought to teach them boys a lesson!
I’ve been asking the mayor alderman city for 5 years to take ownership of this and tear it down we’ve wasted so much resources with multiple fires but I guess the city doesn’t want to
The last thing the city should do is take ownership of this property, unless there is a pressing need for this exact property. Right now it is on the tax rolls, don’t ask that the city take it off the tax rolls unless they promise to reduce spending by the exact amount of income they will be losing from the taxes.