ST. LOUIS, Mo— A massive overnight blaze in downtown St. Louis has escalated into one of the largest firefighting operations the city has seen in recent years. Multiple buildings caught fire in the early morning hours, and firefighters remained on the scene well into the day as flames continued to burn with no clear sign of immediate containment. Officials cautioned that due to the scale of the incident, the fire may continue burning into Sunday.
According to Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson of the St. Louis Fire Department, the blaze has been classified as a 5-Alarm Fire, drawing an enormous emergency response. By 5:35 a.m., at least four buildings had ignited. One of those structures—an aging warehouse—collapsed under the intensity of the heat and flames. Complicating the situation, nearby electrical lines and a section of railroad track also caught fire, expanding the danger zone and making containment efforts more challenging.
A Fire Born in the Early Hours
Authorities said the first call came in around 2:30 a.m. Friday, reporting a fire at a warehouse located at Gratiot and 2nd Streets. The area is dense with old industrial buildings and former factories—structures with heavy timber, aging materials, and decades of stored debris. Chief Jenkerson noted that these outdated factory-style warehouses are effectively fueling the flames, allowing the fire to spread quickly from building to building.
“These old factories are just feeding the fire,” Jenkerson explained, emphasizing that the age and construction type of the buildings contribute to the rapid fire growth and make it difficult for crews to gain control.
Massive Emergency Response
More than 200 firefighters have been deployed in the battle, arriving from multiple engine houses across the city. Ladder trucks, pumpers, rescue units, and support teams have been working in rotation throughout the morning as dense smoke continues to billow over the downtown corridor.
Firefighters have been forced to take defensive positions around the collapsing structures, using aerial ladders and high-volume water streams to keep the flames from spreading to nearby buildings. The instability of the burning warehouses—combined with live power lines and rail infrastructure—has created a hazardous environment requiring extreme caution.
Rescues Amid the Flames
While battling the blaze, firefighters also conducted several rescues. Officials confirmed that multiple people were found inside the burning buildings, believed to be unhoused individuals seeking shelter in the abandoned warehouses. Those rescued were safely evacuated, though additional details about injuries or medical evaluations were not immediately released.
Fire Expected to Burn for Days
Chief Jenkerson warned that the size, construction, and fuel load within the buildings mean the fire is unlikely to be fully extinguished in the near future. “This is the kind of fire that will continue to burn,” he said, indicating that crews may remain on scene into Sunday performing suppression work and monitoring hotspots.
Residents in nearby neighborhoods have been advised to avoid the area and keep windows closed due to smoke conditions. Road closures around 2nd and Gratiot Streets are expected to remain in effect as firefighters continue containment efforts.
Leave a Reply