Firefighters battle blaze at Wisconsin railroad tie recycling facility

CAMPBELL, Wis. — Firefighters spent all day Tuesday battling a blaze at a railroad sleeper recycling plant in western Wisconsin.

The fire broke out early Tuesday morning at Omaha Track in the town of Campbell on French Island, just outside La Crosse, multiple media outlets reported. The facility grinds scrap railway sleepers and materials into chips that can be used as biofuel.

Flames and smoke could be seen for miles.

Several fire brigades were still fighting the fire on Tuesday afternoon. WXOW-TV reports.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is unclear. An email the Associated Press sent to Lisa Roberts, Omaha Track’s chief growth officer, seeking comment was not immediately returned. Roberts is listed on the company’s website as the contact for the Campbell facility.

A similar fire broke out there in 2015 after a wood chipper caught fire. WKBT-TV reports this. The fire released toxins into the air, forcing residents to take shelter.