A two-alarm fire broke out before 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at 40 West Long Street in downtown Columbus, sending multiple engines and ladder trucks racing to the scene. Fire crews worked to rescue at least two people who were reported trapped, one in an elevator and another on scaffolding, while firefighters battled heavy smoke and visible flames. The building sits at the northeast corner of Front and Long streets in the heart of downtown.
According to WSYX, a Columbus fire spokesperson said the blaze started in an electrical system in the building's basement and left people trapped inside. The station reported that crews were actively removing occupants and that multiple rescue and investigative units were assigned to the incident.
Former YMCA Was Mid-Renovation
The seven-story block at 40 W. Long is the former Downtown YMCA, a 1924 brick-and-stone building long noted by preservation groups. As reported by Columbus Underground, developer Woda Cooper had been preparing an adaptive-reuse project called the Lofts at 40 Long to convert the property into roughly 121 affordable apartments. Columbus Landmarks lists the YMCA among its most-endangered sites and had urged careful rehabilitation of the structure.
On-the-Ground Reports Show Big Response
Local message boards and a PulsePoint dispatch log shared by residents captured the scale of the emergency response, listing numerous Columbus Fire companies, specialty teams and a drone unit at the scene. Posts on Reddit also suggested an AEP vault near the corner was involved and that smoke reached adjacent areas, although city officials have not confirmed that detail. Officials have not released a final tally of injuries or structural damage.
Investigation and Street Impacts
Fire investigators will need to examine the basement electrical system to confirm how the blaze started and whether construction activity played a role. Downtown streets around Front and Long were expected to remain restricted while crews completed overhaul work and investigators surveyed the damage. This story will be updated as Columbus fire authorities release additional information.
