STE. GENEVIEVE – A multi-alarm fire broke out around 11 a.m. Saturday in a two-story commercial building at the corner of Ste. Genevieve Drive and Kiefer Street. It had housed the Braun Auto Repair and Fischer Ice business, but longtime residents of the community remember it as the Falstaff Building.
Photo by Damien Sink
The Ste. Genevieve Fire Department released the following statement on the blaze:
On Saturday July 16 at 11:09 a.m. the Ste Genevieve Fire Department along with St Mary FD, Ozora FD and Zell FD were dispatched for a commercial first alarm fire in the building at 201 Ste Genevieve Drive.
The first Ste Genevieve police officer arrived as the call was being dispatched.
Due to the heavy fire conditions a second alarm was immediately requested which brought a truck and manpower from the remainder of the fire departments in Ste Genevieve County. Due to the extent of the fire on arrival and the possibility of imminent collapse a defensive attack was established and maintained until the fire was extinguished.
There were several spot fires from flying embers on neighboring property that had to be extinguished.
Several surrounding buildings received heat damage and melted siding from the radiant heat of the fire.
Several fire fighters were treated for heat related problems and released on the scene, there were no other injuries.
Photos by Don Pritchard
The building as it appeared when it housed Braun Auto Repair. (Google Earth screenshot)
With the extent of the fire, the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office was brought in for the fire investigation. The fire was determined to be accidental with unknown origin.
Ste Genevieve FD remained on scene until approximately 5:00 p.m. The Ste Genevieve Fire Department was assisted on the call by St Mary FD, Ozora FD, Zell FD, Kinsey FD, Weingarten FD and Bloomsdale FD.
We were also assisted with donations of water and food from The Ste Genevieve Eagles, The Point Bar, Rhodes 101, Ste Gen County Towing and numerous neighbors who assisted with dragging hoses and distributing water to the fire fighters.
The Ste Genevieve Fire Department would like to thank anyone who assisted with the call in anyway.
We have always received and greatly appreciate the support of our community.