FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill — Storage trailers behind a Metro East thrift store caught on fire Tuesday morning, destroying donation items.
The fire happened at Savers Thrift Superstore in the 10800 block of Lincoln Trail in Fairview Heights, Illinois.
According to Fairview Fire Department Chief Bryan Doyle, nearly 40 firefighters responded to the 3-alarm fire after a Fresh Thyme employee reported it shortly after 6 a.m.
Crews from Fairview Heights, O'Fallon, Swansea, Lebanon, East Side and French Village arrived at the scene within a few minutes to put out the fire.
Firefighters found two tractor-trailers, a trash compactor and the side of the store were fully engulfed in flames. Donations were charred beyond recognition.
The fire did not spread into the building but the clothes inside had heavy smoke damage.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
"The state fire marshal and local police will be working together on that and look at the video to determine if it could've been homeless people just trying to stay warm or what caused the fire," Chief Doyle said.
Chief Doyle says most of the fire departments in the area are volunteers.
And his department has dwindled since the start of the pandemic from 50 members to just 18.
Along with a smaller staff, he says the main challenges were getting the trailer detached from the store and the weather.
"We had fire trucks coming in with two to three people instead of four or more people like the City of St. Louis have with their fire crews. We have volunteer departments and just trying to stay warm," Chief Doyle said.
Diane Dagner from New Baden says she comes to the thrift store most Tuesdays for the discounts.
"Tuesdays are 30% off! Jewelry, Santa's just anything that's a good buy and a good deal on Tuesdays," Dagner said.
But this Tuesday, she arrived in Fairview Heights to find the store was closed.
Nancy Nielsen also came Tuesday to shop, looking for Halloween costumes to take on her mission trip.
"Sheets! It's the only place you can buy perfect sheets and cut them up into costumes and take them to the mission field in Africa and Peru," Nielsen said.
Nielsen said because of the fire she will be donating more items in the future.
"I thought maybe it was a robbery which wouldn't have been good either but a fire and all of the stuff they lost," Nielsen said.
5 On Your Side asked the store manager for comment at the scene and she declined. It was not immediately known when or if the store will open back up.
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