ºüÀêÊÓƵ firefighters watch as a raging five-alarm fire consumes a five-story warehouse at North First and O'Fallon streets in ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The wind driven fire caused the building to collapse in a heap of rubble. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
As sparks and burning debris rain down around him a ºüÀêÊÓƵ firefighter climbs a ladder to direct water into a raging five-alarm fire in a five-story warehouse at North First and O'Fallon streets in ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The fire caused the building to collapse in a heap of rubble. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
Smoke fills the air and clouds the view of a now collapsed five-story warehouse that burned at North First and O'Fallon streets in ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The intense wind-driven fire caused the building to collapse into a pile of rubble. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
David Carson
As sparks and burning debris rain down around him a ºüÀêÊÓƵ firefighter climbs a ladder to direct water into a raging five-alarm fire in a five-story warehouse at North First and O'Fallon streets in ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The fire caused the building to collapse in a heap of rubble. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
ST. LOUIS — One person was injured after a massive, wind-fueled fire ripped through a vacant warehouse Tuesday evening near ºüÀêÊÓƵ' riverfront.Â
The fire, in a five-story warehouse at North First and O'Fallon streets, began about 6:30 p.m. and raged for more than two hours. It was classified as a five-alarm blaze, which is uncommon and the first such designation in years, according to ºüÀêÊÓƵ Fire Department Capt. Garon Mosby.
The warehouse collapsed in several spots, and firefighters hosed down nearby buildings to keep it from spreading. Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said the warehouse was more than 100 years old.Â
The injured man had a laceration to his face, which was treated as a non-life-threatening injury, Mosby said.
Firefighting efforts were made more complicated by narrow streets in the area, about a half-mile north of Laclede's Landing. The flames burned so hot that firefighters, about 80 yards from the building, were driven backward. Jenkerson described the scene as a "windstorm of embers."
The 15 mph winds on Tuesday worried firefighters, with Laclede Power Generation Facility and other warehouses next to the building. However, the fire was under control as of 8:45 p.m., with the fire department to remain in place overnight until the fire was completely out.
Photos: Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Video: Warehouse wall caught collapsing during five-alarm fire near downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Two vacant warehouses destroyed hours apart in multiple-alarm fires north of downtown ºüÀêÊÓƵ
Five-alarm fire destroys vacant warehouse on the north Riverfront
Five-alarm fire destroys vacant warehouse on the north Riverfront
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Wind-fueled, five-alarm blaze rips through ºüÀêÊÓƵ warehouse
Video: Scenes from North Riverfront warehouse fire
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.Â
A police dog, Finn, searched with officers and found the man hiding near Euclid and Maryland avenues, police said Wednesday morning.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ firefighters watch as a raging five-alarm fire consumes a five-story warehouse at North First and O'Fallon streets in ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The wind driven fire caused the building to collapse in a heap of rubble. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
As sparks and burning debris rain down around him a ºüÀêÊÓƵ firefighter climbs a ladder to direct water into a raging five-alarm fire in a five-story warehouse at North First and O'Fallon streets in ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The fire caused the building to collapse in a heap of rubble. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Smoke fills the air and clouds the view of a now collapsed five-story warehouse that burned at North First and O'Fallon streets in ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The intense wind-driven fire caused the building to collapse into a pile of rubble. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
As sparks and burning debris rain down around him a ºüÀêÊÓƵ firefighter climbs a ladder to direct water into a raging five-alarm fire in a five-story warehouse at North First and O'Fallon streets in ºüÀêÊÓƵ on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. The fire caused the building to collapse in a heap of rubble. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com