Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski expressed frustration at the scene of the fourth fire at Milwaukee's Northridge Mall in just over three weeks.
Fire officials told FOX 6 that fast work by first responders brought the fire, which had been upgraded to a second alarm due to the size and "decrepit condition of building" under control.
Lipski told reporters, "This is extremely important because advanced fire in this building is a firefighter killer, and that's very well known in the fire service."
It was the fourth fire at the abandoned mall in the last three weeks.
A similar incident happened back on July 19. That fire was arson, and damage was estimated at approximately $200,000. Lipski said his firefighters reported it was "one of the hottest fires they've ever fought."
Lipski said every one of these incidents is an enormous drag on resources.
"The whole rest of the northwest side is without emergency coverage right now as we're out here putting out fires in a pile of rubble," said Lipski. "These men and women have to go into this building repeatedly, putting their lives at extreme risk because it has not been properly secured."
Lipski went on to say that the mall should have been razed a long time ago, calling it unacceptable that the building has not been properly secured.
"There's nobody maintaining this property," said Lipski. "There might be an owner on a piece of paper. That's not the same – not when my firefighters' lives are at risk, and I'm over it. I'm done."
