Massive Fire Near Slinger Draws Huge Response From Area Fire Departments

A massive fire in the Slinger area has dozens of fire departments from multiple counties responding to it.

Around 7:30 PM Sunday, May 21, 2023, Slinger Fire Department was called to the Oak Creek Wood Products company at 3247 Sherman Way, a dead end road
off Sherman Road, which is just south of Highway 60 near Interstate 41.

The fire was eventually upgraded to a 3rd level for engines and 5th level for tankers.

The southbound side of 41 was shut down for a period of time while crews worked the most intense time of the fire.

Just before 4 AM Monday morning, engines from Oakfield, Campbellsport, Eden, Ripon and City Of Fond du Lac were sent to assist with the fire.

According to the company’s website, they make custom wood shipping crates and pallets.

Slinger Fire say they were assisted by upwards of forty other fire departments during the incident, and the Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Slinger and Jackson Police Departments as well as the Wisconsin State Patrol.

The main issue is the mulch, said Brad Schaefer, assistant chief of the Slinger Fire Department. Schaefer said the goal for the fire is not to extinguish it but to contain it. Locals will continue to see smoke for days and even weeks after the fire department is done.

Air and water quality were not affected by the fire because most of the items that burned were non treated combustibles.

One building has been determined to be a total loss, but a second building was saved by the fire departments.