Milwaukee, WI
Second Fire in 3 Months Hits Milwaukee U-Haul Storage Facility – Today in Milwaukee
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A two-alarm fire ripped through a U-Haul storage facility in Milwaukee’s South Side on Monday night, just months after a previous five-alarm fire caused significant damage to the same complex. The latest incident damaged 25 storage units on the first floor, while many others may have suffered water, smoke, or soot damage. Renters are now in a state of limbo, waiting to hear from U-Haul about the status of their belongings as the company works to restore power and allow access to the building.
Why it matters
This is the second major fire to hit the U-Haul storage facility in just three months, raising concerns about the safety and security of the complex. The repeated incidents have left many renters anxious about the fate of their personal belongings, which in some cases represent significant financial and sentimental value. The fires also highlight the challenges faced by the storage industry in maintaining reliable facilities and protecting customer property.
The details
The latest fire broke out on Monday night at the U-Haul storage facility located at the intersection of 1st Street and Lapham Avenue. Milwaukee firefighters responded to the two-alarm blaze, which caused damage to 25 storage units on the first floor. According to U-Haul, other units on the first floor as well as some on the upper floors may have also suffered water, smoke, or soot damage. This comes just 75 days after a previous five-alarm fire tore through a different part of the same storage complex, damaging around 400 of the 1,200 total units. The cause of the January fire was determined to be electrical, while the cause of the latest incident is still under investigation.
- The previous five-alarm fire at the U-Haul storage facility occurred on January 21, 2026.
- The latest two-alarm fire broke out on the evening of April 7, 2026.
- A demolition crew is scheduled to begin demolishing the part of the building damaged in the January fire next week.
The players
U-Haul
A major provider of moving and storage services, operating a large storage facility in Milwaukee that has been impacted by two fires in the past three months.
Debra Bennett
A renter at the U-Haul storage facility who has thousands of dollars’ worth of collectibles stored in her unit, which was spared in the first fire but is now in limbo as she waits to hear if it was damaged in the latest incident.
Aaron Lipski
The Milwaukee Fire Chief who responded to the scene of the latest two-alarm fire at the U-Haul storage facility.
Jeff Lockridge
The U-Haul manager of media and public relations who provided details about the damage caused by the latest fire and the company’s plans to assist affected customers.
Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services
The city agency that has ordered the demolition of the part of the U-Haul storage facility damaged in the January fire, and is overseeing the safety of the building following the latest incident.
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What they’re saying
“I never thought I should move my stuff. I thought, well, one detrimental fire and that’s it.”
— Debra Bennett, U-Haul storage renter
“You weren’t expecting a second one.”
— James Stratton, Investigative reporter
“No. Who was?”
— Debra Bennett, U-Haul storage renter
What’s next
Once power is restored to the U-Haul storage facility, the company says it will begin contacting affected customers on Thursday to schedule inspections of their belongings and coordinate any necessary cleaning, drying, or re-boxing services.
The takeaway
The repeated fires at the U-Haul storage facility in Milwaukee have left many renters on edge and questioning the safety and security of their personal belongings. This incident highlights the challenges faced by the storage industry in maintaining reliable facilities and protecting customer property, especially in the face of unexpected disasters.
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred early Friday morning on the 3700 block of W. Villard Avenue.
A 21-year-old was shot and arrived at the hospital for treatment.
The police are investigating the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at (414) 935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips to remain anonymous.
Let’s talk:
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MILWAUKEE — The FBI is reportedly looking to interview Milwaukee police officers about the 2020 presidential election.
The Milwaukee Police Department confirmed to TMJ4 that the department “is aware that the FBI may be interviewing members of our department regarding the 2020 Election.”
This marks the latest in a series of federal election inquiries in the area. Earlier this month, agents visited the home of Milwaukee County elections director Michelle Hawley.
The FBI has not said why they were attempting to contact Hawley, and they have not yet replied to requests for information on their probe of the Milwaukee officers.
President Donald Trump has continuously made false claims that he won the 2020 election, and election-related lawsuits continue to be a focus of the Department of Justice under the Trump administration.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge James Pederson dismissed a DOJ lawsuit seeking to compel the state of Wisconsin to hand over detailed voter registration information.
The DOJ has sued at least 30 states and the District of Columbia seeking to force the release of detailed voter data. In addition to Wisconsin, judges have rejected similar attempts in Maine, Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon and Rhode Island.
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
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Milwaukee ranked 14th and Madison took 21st
See the group of flamingos in Lake Michigan at Port Washington
A group of flamingos landed off the shore of Lake Michigan at Port Washington’s South Beach on Friday making the rare site quite the spectacle
Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee has the 14th best parks in the country and Madison was ranked 21st, according to a new ranking from the Public Land Trust.
The report ranked 100 U.S. cities on a variety of factors, like what amenities are avaliable, how much is invested in the park and how accessible they are. Milwaukee beat out other major cities like New York and Philadelphia.
What did the report say about Milwaukee?
Milwaukee scored high marks for accessibility – 96% of residents are within a 10 minute walk of a park. In total, 9.7% of Milwaukee’s area is parks. Milwaukee also spends an average of $206 on parks per resident, that’s above the national average of $154.
The city also has an above average number of playgrounds, basketball courts, senior centers, bathrooms, splashpads and baseball fields.
What did the report say about Madison?
A larger percentage of Madison is parks – 13.3%. The report said Madison had more park amenities than Milwaukee. It has an above average number of baseball fields, splash pads, bathrooms, basketball courts and dog parks.
The city does spend less per resident on parks though, just $135 which is below the national average and 97% of people are within 10 minutes of a park.
What are the top 25 parks systems in the country?
- Washington, DC
- Irvine, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- St. Paul, MN
- Cincinnati, OH
- San Francisco, CA
- Arlington, VA
- Seattle, WA
- Portland, OR
- Chicago, IL
- Denver, CO
- Boston, MA
- Plano, TX
- Milwaukee, WI
- Boise, ID
- Pittsburgh, PA
- San Diego, CA
- Atlanta, GA
- St. Petersburg, FL
- New York, NY
- Madison, WI
- Buffalo, NY
- Albuquerque, NM
- Richmond, VA
- Lincoln, NE
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