Rock Island fire investigated as arson
The huge Saturday fire in Rock Island is being investigated as arson.
On Feb. 24, 2024 at approximately 5:30 p.m., the Rock Island Fire Department was dispatched to the Rock Island Livestock Auction Barn at 534 34th Avenue for a large structure fire.
With the assistance of multiple fire departments, the fire was eventually extinguished; however, the structure was destroyed. The Rock Island Fire Marshal has determined the fire was the result of a deliberate act, according to a Tuesday press release from the Police Department.
The incident is being investigated as arson by the Fire Marshal and the Criminal Investigations Division of the Rock Island Police Department.
Due to the size of the property and the extent of the fire, mutual aid companies from the Rock Island Arsenal, Moline and Davenport responded to assist. In addition, apparatus and personnel from Colona, Coal Valley, Andalusia, Rapid City/Port Byron, Coyne Center, Reynolds, Illinois City and Carbon Cliff-Barstow were used to provide additional water to suppress the fire, according to a Rock Island city release. Medic EMS, Moline Air 12, and Mid-American were on the scene to provide additional support.
The blaze was contained to the property. Early command tactics allowed department personnel to contain the fire and prevent the spread to surrounding homes and businesses in the area.
Cattle were present on the scene when the fire department first arrived. With the assistance of the property’s employee, 25 cattle were relocated to a safe area of the property until the owner could remove them at a later time, the city said Tuesday. One head of cattle perished during the fire and one escaped during firefighting efforts.
The missing cow was located at around 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26 in the area of the 100 block of 31st Avenue.
The Rock Island Public Works Department is working with the fire department to extinguish a large amount of hay still smoldering on the property. It is estimated that the hay will smolder for up to 10 days, but the fire department is working to minimize the impact of smoke on residents.
The Rock Island Livestock Auction Barn was built in the early 1930s, with the first cattle auction taking place Jan. 25, 1936.
Anyone with information on the fire is encouraged to contact either the Fire Marshal’s office at 309-732-2803, the Rock Island Police Department at 309-732-COPS (2677), or submit a tip through Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities at 309-762-9500/P3tips.com.
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