Reply #136: Not exactly a warehouse

[sybylla]

This fire took place in one building in an old 1900's vintage block of buildings - all adjoining.

My understanding is that We are Wisconsin was in one building. Next door there is an empty building used for storage. Then the Shilling for Senate HQ. (This from memory as I haven't been to campaign headquarters for some time.)

Though La Crosse has one of the most beautiful and vital downtowns I've ever seen, there is still a tendency to use these old block buildings for storage when they can't be rented for office space (usually because the owner doesn't want to spend any money on updating the building).

Having witnessed the damage in a block building in my own home town, I know these are hard fires to put out, but because these buildings aren't always up to date on electrical and heating codes, they are also more prone to accidental fire.