Fire burns abandoned structure at BNSF ore docks in Allouez neighborhood

A fire at the Burling Northern Santa Fe Ore Docks in Allouez required the Superior Fire Department’s full attention Friday.

Engine Co. 3 reported heavy smoke coming from a house on top of the dock as they responded to the scene, according to Battalion Chief Vern Johnson.

The fire was burning in a large two story brick structure built about 100 feet above the ground on steel framework.

After conferring with railroad officials, the fire department determined the structure has very little fire load and has been abandoned for years, “except for the occasional miscreant with thievery in mind,” Johnson said.

“The flames diminished considerably on their own in the first few minutes we were on scene so we had one crew scale the platform and do a primary search of the interior,” Johnson said. “[The] search crew reported no occupants. There are no exposure liabilities, so the decision was made to let the structure burn.

BNSF set a fire crew to monitor the scene and notify the fire department if embers reached the vegetation below.

Fire crews, called to the scene around 5:30 p.m., cleared about 45 minutes later.

“With no lives or valuable property in danger, this is one of the rare cases where it made more sense to do nothing,” Johnson said.

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