Two-alarm fire causes $1.2 million in damage to building north of downtown early Friday

Milwaukee firefighters battled a two-alarm fire early Friday in a building on King Drive near Wright Street north of downtown. 

The fire was reported around 4:30 a.m. at 2537 N. King Drive. 

According to emergency radio traffic, the first fire crews to arrive reported to dispatchers that there were flames showing from the building's first floor.

Fire crews immediately requested two additional engines to the scene. Shortly after that, a second alarm was called. 

Fire commanders at the scene reported it was a two-story building with commercial space on the first floor and residences on the second floor. 

The residences were vacant. It's unclear what business, if any, was operating out of the first-floor storefront, said Deputy Chief Joe Hegeman Jr. of the Milwaukee Fire Department.

Damage is estimated at $1.2 million to the building and $900,000 to the contents, Hegeman said. 

There was so much fire in the building that it was too dangerous for firefighters to enter, so crews had to fight the fire from outside, Hegeman said.

Radio traffic indicated commanders at the scene were concerned that the building would collapse. Eventually, at least two walls did collapse.

"I want everybody totally out of the collapse zone," a fire commander radioed to crews at the scene.

Damage to the building was extensive.

"We're working with the Department of Neighborhood Services to get it torn down," Hegeman said. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation, he said.  

Contact Joe Taschler at (414) 224-2554 or jtaschler@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeTaschler or Facebook at facebook.com/joe.taschler.1.