Crime & Safety

Hours After Fire Begins, Maplewood Crews Still Fight

Maplewood firefighters have been working the commercial fire for more than 16 hours.

Maplewood firefighters have worked more than 16 consecutive hours while battling a fire at .

A crew led by Capt. Peter Marsac has been working nonstop, said Terry Merrell, chief of the .

He called Marsac "instrumental in getting the job done."

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The fire started Friday around 8:30 p.m. and was quickly upgraded to a four-alarm fire, prompting Maplewood officials to call for assistance from several nearby departments.

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With snow on the ground, multiple fire agencies rallied at the corner of Sutton Boulevard and Flora Avenue to fight back the fire. Icicles hung from firefighters' face masks and ladders while the temperature dropped into the teens.

Crews around midnight, but the on Friday.

The combination of photo developing chemicals, which ignite easily, and home heating oils, which burn for a long time, were devastating to the building, chief Terry Merrell said.

Flames have crawled into hard-to-reach voids in the building.

A floor collapsed as firefighters entered the home on Thursday, which created more voids than usual, Merrell said.

Firefighters used a "high-expansion foam" in the basement this morning. The foam should hopefully cool hot spots in the floor while smothering any flames, Merrell said.

Rock Hill Fire Department offered assistance in spreading the foam this morning, he said.

A Richmond Heights firefighter sustained a shoulder injury after he dove out a nearby window when the floor collapsed, Merrell said.

The fire department switched to a new 48-hour shift schedule on Jan. 9. Thursday marked the first night for Marsac's crew using the longer shift.

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