What is believed to be the largest building fire in Springfield since the Weaver Paint Factory fire in the 1970s taxed the resources of the Springfield Fire Dept. to the maximum.
A General Fire Alarm came in at 445 am Saturday at the former Goodwill building on N. 11th St.
The building had multiple collapses, including the second floor, roof and exterior walls, but the crews’ stopped the fire from spreading an adjoined large building to the north.
Squatters came out of the building and told authorities that there may have been others inside. The heavy fire conditions and lack of structural integrity prevented crews from going inside to do a search.
It is unknown at this time if additional people were inside the building.
There were 6 engine companies, 3 truck companies, 2 command vehicles, and 4 additional command staff personnel called in.
During operations on 11th Street, another fire occurred utilizing all remaining units in Springfield, including an extra company made up of crewmembers that had just left the 11th Street scene.
The SFD and Public Works Department are working to find heavy equipment to help demolish parts of the building to determine whether there may have been individuals that did not escape.