An overnight fire tore through a stretch of Missouri Avenue in East St. Louis early Tuesday, starting in a single home before jumping to two neighboring houses and destroying at least one of them. Fire crews pulled a man out of the first home shortly before it collapsed, and neighbors described a heavy plume of smoke as firefighters rushed to chase down lingering hot spots. Authorities say the cause of the initial blaze is still under investigation.
Fire Jumps To Neighboring Homes Amid Gusty Winds
According to First Alert 4, the fire started inside one house on Missouri Avenue near 26th Street, then spread to two nearby homes with help from overnight winds. Crews spent the morning checking for hot spots, securing the scene and keeping the impacted block closed to traffic. Officials have not yet released an estimate of the damage.
Rescue And Investigation
The cause of the initial fire remains under investigation, First Alert 4 reported. Fire investigators typically talk with neighbors and sift through debris to find where and how a blaze began, and so far no official determination has been announced. Residents on the block have been urged to steer clear while crews finish overhaul work and complete safety checks.
Missouri Avenue’s Recent Fire History
Missouri Avenue was also the site of a major commercial building fire in December that drew multiple fire companies and sent visible smoke into downtown, according to RiverBender. That blaze required mutual aid from neighboring departments and underscored the risk that tightly packed blocks can pose when a fire gets a head start. Local fire officials say mutual aid and fast response are key to handling larger incidents across the Metro East.
City and county officials had not released further details as of early Tuesday. Investigators remained on scene, and the public was still being asked to avoid the area. This story will be updated when authorities provide more information.
