Wisconsin’s costly mistake goes up in flames

The building was soon fully engulfed. Madison’s fire department arrived, but when they pointed their hoses at the blaze, nothing came out. There was no pressure — city water tanks had been drained earlier in the day so a boiler could be cleaned. On top of that, the nearby University of Wisconsin-Madison’s reservoir was empty. Units from Milwaukee and Jacksonville’s fire departments boarded trains and raced to the scene. But when they arrived, the bitter cold temperature had frozen the water in their pumps solid.