Overnight fire destroys laundromat in Cahokia Heights

A fire destroyed a laundromat in Cahokia Heights early Thursday morning.

The Best Wash laundromat at 1907 Camp Jackson Road was part of a chain of 15 self-service laundromats in the metro-east, Springfield, Peoria and the St. Louis area, according to the company’s website.

Cahokia Volunteer Fire Department Chief Stephen Robbins told Fox2 News that officials received a call about 1:30 a.m. Thursday after a passerby noticed flames shooting from the freestanding blue building.

“It was heavily involved when we got here, fire throughout the building,” he said. “... There was a partial collapse of the building prior to our arrival, and the roof had collapsed down onto the entire building.”

The fire grew to two alarms, and a total of eight fire departments responded. Robbins didn’t immediately give a cause. He reported no injuries.

Nothing about the fire had been posted on the company’s Facebook page as of late Thursday morning.

“Right now, we’re still trying to get answers ourselves,” owner Branden Unnerstall stated in a private Facebook message, responding to a BND request for more information.

“We love the city of Cahokia Heights,” he added.

Many Best Wash laundromats are open 24/7, but hours for the one on Camp Jackson Road were listed as 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the company’s website.