St. Louis firefighters spent Tuesday afternoon wrestling with a stubborn blaze that tore through a vacant two-and-a-half-story brick building in the 5200 block of Page Boulevard, sending up thick smoke and flames that forced crews into defensive mode and caused problems for traffic and nearby utilities.
The St. Louis Fire Department shared video and updates showing the fire was “heavy throughout the building.” Battalion 5 took command of the scene while Truck Company 13 was first due. Crews worked two aerial waterways and one hand line, shielded an exposure building on side D, and had the city’s building division notified. No injuries were reported, according to the department.
Road Closures And Water-Main Break
As firefighters poured water on the blaze, Page Boulevard ended up with lane closures after a water-main break sent water across the roadway, according to First Alert 4. That outlet also reported that a fire truck was involved in an accident while responding to the first-alarm call. Officials had not immediately released any additional details about the crash.
Investigations And Next Steps
Fire officials said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation, and inspectors and city crews are continuing to check neighboring properties for possible fire extension and structural damage, according to the St. Louis Fire Department. Given the building’s vacancy and the defensive tactics used, investigators are expected to focus on how the fire moved through the older brick structure.
By Tuesday evening, no cause had been released and no injuries had been reported. Investigators said they will share additional details as they become available.
