One St. Louis Firefighter Dead, One Injured In House Collapse

A St. Louis firefighter died and another was injured after a large house collapsed while the firefighters were searching to make sure no one was inside.

Fire officials identified the firefighter who died as Benjamin Polson. He had been with the department since November 2019.

Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson says the blaze broke out before noon Thursday in north St. Louis in the 5900 block of Cote Brilliante Avenue.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze on the first floor and went to the second. The flames there were so intense they decided to leave. That's when the roof and upper floor collapsed.

The extent of the surviving firefighter's injuries is not yet known. He was injured while trying to help Polson.

Polson was not married and had no children, according to the STL Fire Department. His father is a retired captain.