Update 1/9/23 at 10 a.m.: According to a press release from the City of Whitewater, it was at 9:51 p.m. on January 8 that dispatch received a report of smoke and flames at John’s Disposal. It is indicated that upon arrival officers found one building fully engulfed in flames. As of the time of the release at 8:33 a.m. on the 9th, fire personnel were still on the scene containing hot spots.
No John’s employees were onsite when the fire was called in, and no injuries have been reported. Although traffic has been reopened on County Highway U, it is requested that the public avoid the area at this time. The city expressed appreciation to the many communities that provided, and continue to provide, fire personnel and resources for the incident.
The release also indicated that according to a John’s representative trash and recycling pickup is expected to remain on schedule.
The Banner will be updated as further information becomes available.
Update 1/9/23 at 7:30 a.m.: Per WMTV: “Employees were given passage on Hwy U to get into work this morning, telling NBC15, they were given the green light from JDS to carry out work as scheduled.”
Update 1/9/23 at 7:30 a.m.: The following was posted to the Whitewater Fire Department Facebook page at approximately 2 a.m.:
Crews are currently operating at a structure fire on Hwy U at John’s disposal outside of Whitewater. Hwy U is shutdown between Fremont and Hwy D. Crews will be operating on scene for an extended period of time.
By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Per Whitewater Dispatch, a structure fire was reported at John’s Disposal, 107 County U at approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday, January 8. At this time the Banner is able to report that with the amount of smoke still arising from the property at midnight, the large quantity of firefighting vehicles on site from multiple agencies, and the number of tankers still being filled at hydrants, this is a major, five alarm fire. Reportedly agencies have been responding from as far as 50 miles away. As of 1 a.m. on Monday we are unable to confirm any further information.
County U between Fremont and County D is likely to be closed for many hours. It is expected that there may be some icy areas on roads where tankers have been filling from hydrants.
John’s Disposal’s recycling facility in the Town of Norway in western Racine County suffered what was described as a massive fire on July 1, 2018.
The Jefferson County Scanner Facebook page, considered to be a reliable but unofficial source of information, published the following late breaking updates:
**UPDATE AT 1112P ,Waukesha County requested with a tender strike team on the interdivisional box
UPDATE 1138p, strike team of engines requested from Dane Co
UPDATE 103am, Green County requested with a strike team
The Walworth County Scanner Updates Facebook page, which is considered to be a reliable but unofficial source of information, published the following information about the January 8, 2023 fire.
Whitewater Fire: MABAS 12-5 2nd alarm
John’s Disposal Hwy U for structure fire
3rd alarm – full
Upgraded Full 4th
5th alarm for truck companies
5th Alarm for tenders
Upgraded to interdivisional strike team level from
MABAS
division 106 for tenders
Divison 115 for engines
Engines: Fort Atkinson, Palmyra, Helensville, Cambridge, Darien, city of Delavan, Stoughton, Evansville, Sharon
Trucks: Whitewater, East Troy, Lake Geneva, Watertown
Tenders: LaGrange, Milton, Big Bend, Edgerton, Johnson Creek, Kettle Morraine, Troy Center, Clinton, Waterloo, Janesville, Walworth
Squads: Jefferson, Rome, Lake Mills, Town of Delavan, Sullivan, East Troy, Footville, Western Lakes
Ambulances: Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Waterloo
Chiefs: Fort Atkinson, Jefferson, Helenville, Lake Mills, city of Delavan, Elkhorn, Evansville, Dousman, Williams Bay
Special Equipment
Milton RIT
WE Energies
Western Lakes Rehab
Lyons Air Unit
Change of Quarters Mukwonago engine & chief
Ixonia
