Fire and Hazmat Teams Respond To Self-Storage Mercury Spill

On May 26, the South Milwaukee Fire Department and the Milwaukee hazmat team reported to My Storage Home located at 1005 Columbia Avenue to evaluate a substance spill. Upon arrival, the first responders suspected it to be mercury. 

The contained spill is being handled by the storage facility’s owner, Chris Hitler, who has contracted with a hazmat remediation company. Hitler told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the facility has been locked and will remain closed until the spill is cleaned up. He and the company are working with the appropriate authorities to resolve the issue.

“The facility has to stay closed until it’s cleaned up,” Hitler said. “Unfortunately, no one has come forward to explain what happened or where they got the mercury from―hopefully, we’ll be back open in a couple of days.”

"No customers' units were affected," Hitler continued. "This is completely outside on the asphalt. The remediation should be fairly quick once it starts, and hopefully it will happen in the next day or two ."

The South Milwaukee Fire Department provided the following statement:

"The scene was stabilized, and the known mercury was safely contained and removed in accordance to department’s policies and procedures. After ensuring no immediate threat to life safety remained, the property was released back to the owner."

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