CAT Tracks for January 10, 2011
DOWNTOWN CAIRO FIRE

For you Cairoites, I have been informed that the building that burned this evening was known as the downtown Snower Sewing Factory.


From the KFVS TV Channel 12...


Link to Original Story

Four in custody after 4-story building in Cairo burns, explodes and collapses

Posted: Jan 10, 2011 6:20 PM CST
Updated: Jan 11, 2011 4:17 AM CST

CAIRO, IL (KFVS) - Fire Chief John Meyer said four people were taken into custody after a Monday evening fire that erupted inside a four-story vacant building on 8th & Commercial Streets in Cairo.

Meyer said the four people taken in for questioning were found in the building. None had been charged with a crime.

"Naturally if they were in there and there was no utilities I've got to find out exactly what they were doing in the building," Meyer said. "What I've been told is that they were in there cutting metal out (with torches), and they did not have permission to be in the building. But I don't know for sure yet."

Meyer said the building was a total loss.

Tuesday morning the Cairo Police Department could not comment on whether the four people were still in custody or released.


From the Southeast Missourian...


Link to Original Story

Fire destroys another vacant building in Cairo, Ill.

Southeast Missourian

CAIRO, Ill. -- Firefighters from several departments struggled to contain an explosive fire Monday in Cairo, Ill., where another vacant historic building was destroyed.

Crews from Cairo, Mounds City, Ill., and Mounds, Ill., responded to the fire around 6:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Commercial Street. Although Monday's fire was the first big blaze of 2011, Cairo firefighters responded to a handful of fires in October and November. The fires last year destroyed three businesses, including the city's only Chinese restaurant and an old, vacant lounge called the Speakeasy.

As crews tried to control the fire Monday, the brick building's walls began to collapse one by one. Around 7:30 p.m., one wall's collapse caused a power outage in the area.

Police officers blocking off the area on Commercial Street said the fire may have been caused by some individuals who were cutting metal behind the building. They said they had several suspects in custody.

A witness watching the firefighters said the building, which housed an old clothing and footwear manufacturing company, has been vacant at least 20 years. The destroyed building is neighbor to a local bar, Fat Boys.

The owner said the fire had already taken out a beer garden between the vacant building and his bar.


Additional Pictures of Monday Night's Fire...

...courtesy of Bobby Mayberry: