ST. LOUIS – The worst of the flames and smoke from the fire at a warehouse in the Botanical Heights neighborhood have died down, but those living right next door to the warehouse are still seeing, smelling and feeling the effects.
"You can smell it a lot up there," said resident Dustin Luegring
Yet, Dustin Luegring and his friends decided to throw around the pigskin. Even with the smell from the fire at the Warehouse on Park Ave still lingering.
"When you first step out back on our back patio, it's a pretty strong smell, too," he said.
Five days after the fire in the Botanical Heights neighborhood, the building continues to smolder. Since Wednesday, the St. Louis Fire Department has been dousing the building with water, hoping to stop it from burning.
"It was obviously a hectic week," said resident Alex Schenk.
Alex Schenk is roommates with Luegring. He said the fire forced them to leave their house Wednesday.
"It smelled worst in our apartment than it did outside," Schenk said.
He and Luegring planned a Thanksgiving dinner with their friends Sunday. They thought those plans were in jeopardy.
"I remember that Thursday are we still going to have our Thanksgiving blast here."
Fortunately, the worst of the smell has passed. Their Thanksgiving plans stayed intact. And they're grateful the fire didn't have any long-term effects on their home. Their concerns now turn to the smoke and possible health hazards.
"Definitely some concerns, like what's in it?” Luegring said. “And is that going to have one have any short-term impacts on our health and what are the long-term impacts on that as well."
"If they were to release news that the air is not safe than what are your next steps, where do you go from there,” Schenk said.
The building's owner says his priority is getting life back to normal.
"The goal is to find homes for our customers and their product and to keep our employees employed so they can continue to do their job," Bob Granda, one of the building's owner, said.
Grana said he's trying to find storage space for his tenants. Many businesses have shipments on their way to St. Louis and they have no place to put their product.
Grana also said he will meet with the insurance company and demolition crews Monday. He hopes crews will start tearing down the debris so he can start rebuilding.
