Police Launch Investigation of Wednesday's Factory Fire

The Menomonee Falls Police Department is picking up where the Menomonee Falls Fire Department left off. 

After firefighters extinguished a blaze that began in a vacant factory on the corner of Pershing Avenue and Hayes Avenue, Fire Chief Jeffrey Hevey knew right away the blaze had suspicious origins. Falls Police Capt. Mark Waters confirmed Thursday that the incident is now under investigation. 

The fire department received the call about the fire at 4:16 p.m. Wednesday after a resident spotted smoke coming from the building. First responders arrived at 4:20 p.m., and needed to force their way into the building since it was vacant. Hevey said the fire was caused by a pile waste boxes and paper that were burning inside the building. 

Hevey said the factory was scheduled to be razed in the near future. 

The fire was knocked down within 15 minutes, and crew from Milwaukee Fire Department were called to the scene. They utilized special equipment to help ventilate the building. There were no injuries from the blaze, and the final group of firefighters left the scene at 6:43 p.m. 

Since the building was old and in poor condition, Hevey said firefighters were especially diligent about overhauling the scene. 

Waters said there were no updates at this time about the investigation.