By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
- Firefighters in Jefferson County, Missouri, responded to their 13th fire at a vacant apartment complex in Arnold on March 19, fire officials said.
- Crews battled flames in a two-story, wood-framed building that had been abandoned and repeatedly targeted by arson or suspicious fires.
- Firefighters used multiple handlines and aerial operations to bring the blaze under control.
- No injuries were reported among firefighters or civilians.
- Fire officials continue investigating the pattern of fires at the complex.
ARNOLD, MO — Fire crews in Jefferson County battled a structure fire at a vacant apartment building in Arnold on March 19, marking the 13th blaze reported at the site this year, officials said.
The two-story, wood-framed complex on North Cherry Street has been the scene of multiple fires this year, drawing repeated fire department responses to the abandoned property, the Jefferson County Fire Protection District reported.
Firefighters deployed handlines and elevated master streams to extinguish the fire and prevent further spread, according to the department’s statement.
No injuries were reported among fire personnel or bystanders, and the cause of the latest blaze remains under investigation.
Jefferson County fire officials have expressed concern about the recurring incidents at the complex and said they are coordinating with law enforcement to determine any patterns or causes as investigations continue.