Only in Wisconsin - warehouse fire = river of melted cheese

[HoleshotHolset]

I heard someone at work mention how in May of 1993 there was a warehouse fire here in Madison.



Apparently the warehouse was filled with cheese, butter, etc... and when it lit off, all the foodstuffs melted and literally created a river.



I haven't found much info on it except for the following taken from this . PDF:



"In May of 1991 (TYPO?), a fire broke out in a refrigerated warehouse that stored 50 million pounds of food products, including butter, lard and cheese. This warehouse was in close proximity to a creek that flowed into Lake Monona, a large urban lake. The heat from the fire caused the food products to melt, which in turn, contributed to the intensity and duration of the fire. It took 8 days for the fire department to put out the fire. The warehouse buildings were destroyed, and the water from the fire suppression activities mixed with the melted food products and flowed toward the creek and nearby storm sewers – all leading to the lake. The fire department realized quickly that this was a reportable spill, and a potential environmental disaster and reported the release to the DNR. The department acted to prevent the mixture from reaching the waterbodies, and the total

environmental cleanup costs to the warehouse company were over $1 million. "



Matt

 

[tmccormick]

I bet that smelled really good after a few days in the sun!!!!

 

[Shovelhead]

mmmmmmm, fondue.

 

[csevers]

I was there!!!

It was a very big deal at the time we along with probably 1k others went and watched the fire fighters try to put it out, The butter,cheese were running down the streets it was on Cottage Grove Rd. and Hwy 51 you could see the flames from a long ways away I had an aunt and cousin both living in the area at the time.



Craig

 

[Duluth Diesel]

Melted cheese running down streets and causing widespread panic. Sounds like the Wisconsin version of The Blob.

 

[MFalkinham]

Matt,



I remember when that fire happened. There was an AWFUL stink around that site for at least 6 months after it happened. I don't know how the people who lived downwind could stand it. It made me want to puke just driving past the place.



- Mike

 

[nixter]

Melted cheese running down streets and causing widespread panic.

Damn, where was I with my big spoon?

The company I work for has a depot near that warehouse, there was a grease stain on the road for months.



Matt, if any of the Miller Brewing warehouses have a fire, I'll give you a call to help save inventory. I understand it's not Guiness but it'll do.



Nixter

 

[johnrv4]

Could have been a nice party

We could have had a nice party if somebody brought a bunch of Nacho chips and some Jalapeno pepper slices. Oo. Oo.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Nick,



I'm going to carry a pager - and give Miller Brewing my number!



I haven't found an exact date of the incident... but if it happened on or around the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo)... . that would be one heck of a plate of nachos as John suggested.



MMMMMmmmm... . beer and nachos.



Matt - spent 4+ hours at the St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland... home of Guinness.

 

[NPloysa]

That would be awesome, catch a fish from the stream, leave it on the line, grill it, and throw it back in the same river for a nice coating of cheese