Suspected mercury spill at a South Milwaukee storage facility draws hazmat, fire response

A substance spill at a South Milwaukee storage facility prompted a response from the South Milwaukee Fire Department and the Milwaukee hazmat team, according to the fire department.

Crews were called around 4 p.m. May 26 to South Milwaukee Self Storage, 1005 Columbia Ave. When they arrived, first responders found a substance believed to be spilled mercury, the fire department said.

The spill was evaluated and was handled by the storage facility owner, Chris Hitler, who contracted with a hazmat remediation company.

The facility reopened on May 27 around 9 p.m., Hitler said.

He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the facility had been locked and remained closed until the spill was cleaned up. He said they worked with the appropriate authorities to resolve the issue.

“Unfortunately, no one has come forward to explain what happened or where they got the mercury from," he said.

MyStorageHome.com, which lists nine locations across Wisconsin, including South Milwaukee, offers storage units starting at $55 a month, according to its website.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.