ST. LOUIS – On Tuesday, dozens of fire departments responded to a massive fire at a warehouse in east St. Louis.
Chief Derrick Burns of the East St. Louis Fire Department said they were called out around 1 a.m. on Tuesday and spent the entire day putting out flames at Pallet Sales and Recycling.
Burns said the weather created challenges for crews working to put the fire out.
“It is still making it difficult for us. We’re in the overhaul process where we’re just putting out hot spots and the wind is still aiding the fire; just as fast as we put water on it, it’s keeping it burning,” Burns said. “This is a unique one because it is a pallet sales and recycling. So pallets are dried wood and there is a lot of air space between them. When they’re stacked like that, it goes up faster than a campfire.”
According to Burns, 32 fire departments responded to help put the fire out.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the state fire marshal of Illinois.