A massive five-alarm fire tore through Lincoln Avenue School on Milwaukee’s south side early Tuesday morning, sending thick smoke and flames into the sky as hundreds of firefighters worked to contain the rapidly spreading blaze. The fire, which broke out before dawn, caused extensive damage to the historic elementary school and prompted a large-scale emergency response.
According to the Milwaukee Fire Department, crews were dispatched to Lincoln Avenue School shortly before 3 a.m. after reports of a fire at the elementary school located near South 19th Street and West Lincoln Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames and dense smoke pouring from the roof and upper portions of the century-old building.
The incident quickly escalated to a five-alarm fire, bringing more than 100 firefighters—and later reports indicated as many as 200 personnel—to the scene. Ladder trucks surrounded the school as crews attacked the blaze from multiple directions in an effort to prevent further collapse and contain the fire.
Officials said the building, which was constructed more than 100 years ago, did not have a sprinkler system, making firefighting efforts more challenging. Lincoln Avenue School serves more than 400 students from kindergarten through fifth grade and is part of the Milwaukee Public Schools district.
Fortunately, no students or staff were inside the building when the fire started because it occurred during overnight hours. As of the latest updates, authorities have not reported any injuries related to the incident.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Fire officials have not determined what sparked the blaze, and investigators are expected to examine the scene once it is safe to enter.
Milwaukee Public Schools has not yet announced how the fire will affect classes or when students and staff may be able to return. District officials are expected to provide additional information regarding temporary learning arrangements and the extent of the damage after a full assessment of the building is completed.
Emergency crews remained at the scene Tuesday morning, continuing suppression efforts and monitoring for hotspots as the investigation into one of Milwaukee’s largest recent school fires continues.
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