A vacant two-story building near Arlington Avenue and Ridge Avenue in north St. Louis went up in flames Sunday, drawing a first-alarm response as firefighters worked through thick smoke and visible fire. Engines and ladder companies remained on scene into the morning, and there was no immediate word on injuries or what started the blaze.
Scene and response
According to FOX 2, the fire broke out at 1401 Arlington Avenue, prompting the St. Louis Fire Department to declare a 1st alarm for the vacant structure. Multiple engine and ladder companies were dispatched as crews concentrated on knocking down the flames and preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
Why vacant buildings are risky
Vacant-building fires bring their own set of hazards for both firefighters and neighbors. A National Fire Protection Association report found that U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of roughly 30,200 structure fires in vacant properties per year from 2011–2015, and that these incidents account for a disproportionate share of firefighter injuries. The report also notes that such fires are often intentional and more likely to extend beyond the building where they start, which complicates suppression efforts; see the NFPA.
Local context
This latest blaze follows other major responses in the city this year, including a four-alarm apartment fire in January that brought over 100 firefighters to Union and Waterman. Incidents like these have underscored the operational challenges St. Louis crews face when older or vacant buildings catch fire.
Officials had not released a cause for the Arlington Avenue fire and had not immediately reported any injuries, FOX 2 reported. Investigators and city crews were expected to stay on site to conduct an initial assessment of the damage.
