Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Crews fought the fire for a couple of hours, McDaniel said. Although they initially went inside, the incident commander evacuated the crews and had them fight the fire from outside because of concerns that something inside the building could collapse and injure the firefighters, he said.

A crowd of about 50 ringed the yellow tape cordoning off the scene Sunday. They watched as two firefighters perched atop the extended ladder of "The West End Express" fire truck blasted water at the front and side of the building. At one point, a second truck's ladder extended across the front of a neighboring residence to assist. At times, pieces of debris fell to the ground.

Spectators could see firefighters inside the building attacking the fire's remnants as well.

The fire crews "knocked down an extreme amount of fire," Fire Lt. Philip Payne told reporters at the scene. They made "a very aggressive attack."

"When it gets up in the attic, you have to chase it," Payne added. "It doesn't come to you."

Seven engines, four ladder trucks and three rescues had converged on the scene as of 7:45 p.m.

Investigators are still working to determine where the fire started.

The other suspicious fire that crews battled this weekend was at 62 Laura St., McDaniel said. Crews were called to that vacant two-story wood-frame building at 5 a.m. Saturday.

The fire caused moderate damage on the first and second floors, McDaniel said. No one was injured in that fire, according to the Fire Department.

-- With reports by staff writer Michael McKinney

(This entry was first posted Sunday night, with updates throughout Monday.)