(UPDATE 12:35 p.m.)

Crews have been working a fire at the Pioneer Building since around 10 a.m. Monday.

According to Chief Training Officer Mike Neylon with the St. Joseph Fire Department, an alarm came in at at 10:21 a.m. stating a building was on fire.

“First arriving companies found smoke exiting the building,” Neylon said. “They rapidly got together and found that the building was indeed burning and burning quite actively. Within five minutes, the second alarm was called, the fire chief was brought in and they are in the process of trying to put it out without getting anymore damage done to surrounding buildings and without getting anybody hurt.”

Neylon said the second building on fire is across the alley from the back of the Pioneer Building. He said crews have it almost put out and are working to contain the fires so no embers cause other buildings to catch fire.

Neylon said they don’t believe anyone has been injured in the fire. He also said they do not yet know the cause of the fire and crews will be on scene at least until nighttime.

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(UPDATE 12:10 p.m.)

Crews have been working the Pioneer building fire downtown Monday morning.

According to the Post’s Nadia Thacker, it appears crews are starting to go into a second building behind the Pioneer building and there is smoke coming from that roof.cre

St Joseph Fire Department Inspector Jason Ziph said he does not believe there has been any injuries.

Authorities are still asking people to avoid the area of 5th and Francis Streets as crews work to contain the fires.

We will update this post as we find out more details.

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(11:33 a.m.)

Crews are working to contain the fire at the Pioneer building downtown.

According to the Post’s Nadia Thacker, the roof has collapsed in on both sides.

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Crews are battling a fire downtown Monday morning.

The Pioneer building downtown is on fire. St. Joseph Post’s Nadia Thacker is on scene and said the building has partially collapsed.

Residents are urged to avoid the area of 5th and Francis Streets.

We will update this post as we find out more details.