EAST ALTON — Crews from Stutz Excavating were called to the scene of a major strip mall fire Tuesday afternoon to begin moving debris, allowing firefighters better access to stubborn hotspots at Wilshire Plaza.
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Firefighters were first dispatched around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday to a large blaze at the Wilshire Village strip mall in the 600 block of Berkshire Boulevard. The East Alton Fire Department led the response, with assistance from nearly nine surrounding departments as flames tore through a Chinese restaurant and several vacant storefronts.
Fire officials said a Dollar General store in the plaza sustained smoke and water damage while crews worked to bring the fire under control.
A stretch of Berkshire Boulevard was shut down for several hours overnight as firefighters battled heavy flames and worked to contain the damage. Crews remained on scene Tuesday to ensure all hotspots were fully extinguished.
The Madison County Emergency Management responded with its rehab unit, providing heaters, coffee, water, Gatorade and food to firefighters during the prolonged operation.
Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also on scene, assisting the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal in examining the rubble and searching for clues as to the cause of the fire.
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