U-Haul fire damages hundreds of storage units in Milwaukee

Customers may soon be allowed to check their belongings before demolition begins

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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A January fire at a U-Haul storage facility in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood damaged about 400 of the site's roughly 1,200 storage units. U-Haul says crews are currently clearing debris around the affected buildings, and once that's done, customers will be contacted and allowed to safely check their units before any demolition occurs.

Why it matters

The fire has left many customers, like Kathryn Behling, frustrated as they've tried to get updates on the status of their belongings. This incident highlights the challenges faced by those who rely on storage facilities to house their personal items, especially in the event of an unexpected disaster.

The details

The fire damaged parts of the U-Haul Moving & Storage facility near 1st and Orchard, affecting buildings B, D, E and H. Customers with belongings stored in those buildings were impacted by fire damage, soot or water. U-Haul says two parts of the facility, buildings C and H, will be demolished and rebuilt, while the rest of the storage buildings will remain in place.

  • The fire occurred in January 2026.
  • U-Haul says crews are currently clearing debris around building H, which had about 272 storage units affected by the fire.

The players

Kathryn Behling

A customer who had belongings stored in the affected U-Haul facility, including baseball memorabilia that belonged to her late father.

U-Haul

The company that owns and operates the storage facility in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood where the fire occurred.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes it takes a little bit of a push to get some answers.”

— Kathryn Behling, Customer (fox6now.com)

“I wish they would be a little bit more direct with the tenants, but I'm relieved that we're eventually gonna be allowed into the unit.”

— Kathryn Behling, Customer (fox6now.com)

What’s next

Once the debris is cleared around building H, U-Haul says customers will be contacted and allowed to safely check their units before any demolition occurs.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of storage facility operators maintaining clear communication with customers, especially in the aftermath of unexpected disasters that impact their belongings. It also underscores the emotional and sentimental value that many customers place on the items they store, such as Kathryn Behling's late father's baseball memorabilia.