The Tucson Fire Department battled a two alarm building fire in the 1900 block of North Stone Avenue, formerly the Bum Steer, with the construction of the building and location of the fire posing challenges to firefighters.
Multiple calls were made to 9-1-1 reporting smoke and flames from the building and firefighters could see smoke in the area as they approached. The first Tucson Fire Department (TFD) engine arrived on scene and reported flames from the northeast corner of the building, roughly 25% involved. A power line was also on fire in close proximity.
Firefighters pulled a large hose line to extinguish the flames from the outside as additional crews arrived on scene. Firefighters entered the building to perform a search to ensure no one was inside and could report seeing the fire in the upper levels of the building.
The building has several interior levels with multiple staircases. Once the primary search was performed the decision was made to fight the fire defensively, or from the exterior due to the heavy fire load inside and other potential hazards. Multiple ladder crews were on scene trying to gain access to the attic area of the building, made much more difficult due to the extreme pitch of the roof. Crews cut several holes in the roof and then sprayed water into the holes trying to reach the fire in the attic and void spaces.
The majority of the flames were extinguished but crews were still on scene hours later, extinguishing hot spots in the attic space. Two alarms were dispatched to the scene with approximately 40 firefighters and 14 units having responded.
The cause and origin of the fire are still under investigation as fire investigators had not been able to even enter the building yet. TFD reports that determining the cause will be an extended operation due to concerns on the structural stability of the building and whether it is safe to enter.