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Fire breaks out at Jamestown Mall, 2 firefighters injured

Published

2 years ago

April 20, 2023

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – It was already an eyesore, but Thursday morning the defunct and abandoned old Jamestown Mall in north county is in even worse shape after a fire does significant damage to part of it.

The Interim Chief for the Blackjack Fire Protection District, Roger Ellison, told FOX 2 Thursday morning that this latest fire started just beyond the doors of an old loading dock area. The fire then grew and did some very extensive damage.

There is a significant part of the roof missing after the fire.

Ellison shared that authorities got the initial call for the fire around 5:40 p.m. Wednesday.

We’re told when the first crews arrived, flames were coming from the area of the former mall close to the old Dillard’s store.

The fire quickly grew to three alarms, with crews from multiple departments responding. Smoke could be seen for miles.

Besides fighting the flames, crews also had to deal with the large amount of debris inside the building.

Ellision explained that two firefighters did suffer minor injuries. One is from the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District, while the other is from the Hazelwood Fire Department.

Ellison said both firefighters have been treated and released from the hospital.

FOX 2 spoke with Ellison about how challenging it was to fight the fire.

“It was tough in the aspect of gaining the access, you know,” Ellsion expressed. “Because it’s an abandoned mall, there’s already hazards you know with the walls and roofs you know that aren’t stable inside. So we got to make sure that when we send guys in or firefighters in that we’re trying to send them in to a fairly safe environment – and then debris was piled up, so we had to get heavy equipment in there, you know? To separate that equipment, so we could get to the deep seeded area.”

Ellision also said the cause for the fire is still under investigation. There is no working electricity in the former mall.

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We’re told $12 million in COVID relief funds have been set aside to demolish the old mall. It’s set to start in about a month. It’s unclear whether that timeline might be sped up in the wake of the fire.

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Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

Published

1 year ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.

Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.

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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.

Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.

Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.

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St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

Published

1 year ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.

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Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

Published

1 year ago

July 11, 2023

Natural Bridge

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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.

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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.

A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.

The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.

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