Massive Fire Destroys Historic Crunden-Martin Warehouses in St. Louis
Location: St. Louis, Missouri (South of Downtown, near 2nd and Gratiot Streets)
Incident Summary
In the early morning hours of Friday, November 28, 2025, a massive six-alarm fire engulfed the historic Crunden-Martin Warehouse complex. The blaze began around 3:00 a.m. and quickly spread through the vacant structures, eventually involving four to five buildings in the complex. Approximately 200 firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the scene, utilizing defensive tactics due to the intensity of the heat and the structural instability of the century-old brick and timber buildings.
The facility, formerly the Crunden-Martin Manufacturing Company, was a historic industrial site known for producing woodenware, metal goods, and other household items before closing in 1990. The complex was currently vacant but was a key part of the planned $1.2 billion "Gateway South" redevelopment project. Fire crews successfully evacuated several unhoused individuals from the vicinity, and no injuries were reported. The fire caused significant structural collapses and is expected to smolder for several days.
Speculation on Cause of Incident
The official cause of the fire is currently undetermined. However, fires in vacant historic warehouses often present specific risk factors.
The rapid spread of the fire suggests a high fuel load, likely from the building's original heavy timber construction and potentially abandoned combustible materials inside.
Vacant buildings are frequently targets for unauthorized entry. If the buildings were not properly secured, human activity (accidental or intentional) could be a potential ignition source. The fire chief noted electrical outages in the area, but it is unclear if this was a cause or a result of the fire.
Applicable Industry Standard: NFPA 1
NFPA 1: Fire Code (Chapter 10 - General Safety Requirements)
This standard specifically addresses the hazards associated with vacant and abandoned buildings.
Securing the Premises: NFPA 1 requires that vacant buildings be secured against unauthorized entry to prevent vandalism and accidental ignition by squatters or trespassers.
Removal of Combustibles: The code mandates that owners remove all combustible waste, refuse, and storage from vacant properties to reduce the fuel load available to a fire.
Fire Protection Systems: Where possible, the standard advises maintaining existing fire protection systems (like sprinklers) in service, or strictly managing the impairment if they must be deactivated.
Had these buildings been strictly maintained in accordance with NFPA 1—specifically regarding security against intrusion and the removal of internal fuel loads—the risk of ignition or the speed of fire propagation might have been reduced.
Top Sources
KSDK (5 On Your Side): "Over 200 firefighters battle 'major' high-rise warehouse fire in downtown St. Louis"
St. Louis Business Journal / NextSTL: Reports on the Crunden-Martin complex history and its role in the Gateway South project.
RiverBender.com: "Six Alarm Fire Strikes Century-Old Warehouses Near 2nd Street In St. Louis"