St. Clair County convenience store destroyed in morning fire

It took firefighters about 30 minutes to contain a fire that destroyed a gas station and convenience store in Washington Park Monday morning.

Washington Park Fire Chief Preston Green said his department received the emergency call at about 10:54 a.m. and, by the time crews arrived, the Crown Food Mart at 1441 North Kingshighway, was fully engulfed.

Green said employees of the convenience store reported hearing “popping sounds” at the back of the building three different times before eventually smelling smoke and noticing that the circuit breaker box was on fire. It’s not clear if that was the original of the blaze, he said.

The business was open but no one was injured during the fire, Green said. Fire Department Battalion Chief Doug Orange said the gas pumps were not damaged, but the building was completely destroyed.

Washington Park was assisted by mutual aid from Cahokia Heights, Alorton, Millstadt, Praire du Pont, Midway, Villas Hills, Black Sheep and State Park fire departments.

“Washington Park certainly appreciates all the help from the surrounding departments,” Green said.

This story was originally published January 31, 2022 at 12:23 PM.