Dozens of firefighters respond to blaze at metro-east store. Here’s what we know
Fire investigators sifted through debris Wednesday from an early morning fire at a liquor and convenience store on Camp Jackson Road to determine the cause of the blaze that destroyed the business.
Camp Jackson Fire Chief Chris Davis said fire crews were dispatched at 2:25 a.m. to the County Line Quick Stop at 2913 Camp Jackson Road.
The store was closed at the time and no injuries were reported.
Davis said fire was already shooting through the roof on one side of the building when firefighters arrived. The other side had smoke coming out everywhere, Davis said.
“We started attacking the fire. But the fire spread to the attic and it just traveled through the whole building. It was a total loss,” Davis said.
The store was filled with liquor, snacks, candy and vending machines, Davis said.
“It was fully involved after about five minutes of our arrival,” he said.
Davis said he went to a fifth alarm, which means he called in lots of additional mutual aid from other cities in Illinois.
Davis did not know the cause of the fire.
“The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office sent someone out. He is up there now doing an investigation. We don’t know anything yet,” Davis said.
Assistant Fire Chief Sharon Davis said a store employee was in an upstairs apartment when the fire broke out and spotted smoke from the fire.
At least 10 departments with more than 30 firefighters responded to the blaze. It took about two hours to extinguish the fire.
This story was originally published October 18, 2023 at 1:44 PM.
