Photos Captured the Horror as Massive Warehouse Fire Raged

An immense fire consumed a warehouse at 3937 Park Avenue in south St. Louis on Wednesday. Fighting the flames was an all-day effort, with the fire continuing to burn today. Fire Capt. Garon Mosby said Wednesday that firefighters had to fight the fire from the outside in, a tactic called "surround and drown," due to its intensity.

The building held a combination of offices and storage space, with everything from toys collected by the shriners to inventory for local Reedy Press being destroyed in the blaze (as well as some hazardous material — neighbors were warned to keep their windows shut and HVAC systems off last night).

More details: Massive Warehouse Burns in South St. Louis

But while the losses were serious, the billowing smoke was truly something to behold — both horrible and striking. Both amateur and professional photographers across the city took to social media yesterday to document what they witnessed, a series of jaw-dropping images recording the juxtaposition of yesterday's clear blue sky and some serious destruction. Caught, too, in their frames were the city's finest, working under tough conditions to keep the fire from spreading and keep Botanical Heights safe.

Here's a look at what your fellow St. Louisans saw throughout the day.

Smoke yesterday, smoke today.

A post shared by Paul Sorenson (@sorensonpaul) on Nov 16, 2017 at 7:43am PST

Tower Grove view of the day st louis sky turned black from StLouis

Sitting on the porch having a smoke. from StLouis

We can be Heroes

A post shared by Glen Wolf (@urbanxposure_) on Nov 15, 2017 at 5:13pm PST

🔥 2 blocks from our house a warehouse is burning down on Park Ave in St Louis. Been burning for 6 hrs so far and still going strong. Have at least 8 fire trucks spraying water and its not slowing down. Pray for the neighborhood! #fire #stlfire #stlouisfire #stlouisfiredept #upinsmoke

A post shared by Lawn And Beyond (@lawnandbeyondllc) on Nov 15, 2017 at 5:10pm PST

Flames from the Park fire visible from Vandeventer from StLouis

Spot the helicopter #stlfire

A post shared by Ryan Albritton (@chouteaufarmer) on Nov 15, 2017 at 12:55pm PST

@paalwilliams

A post shared by Drew Nikonowicz (@drew_nikonowicz) on Nov 15, 2017 at 1:47pm PST

Time-lapse photo of the #STL #WarehouseFire. Too dark to see but I know it's still burning. Good luck firemen & women. 😳😬#Stlfire #Stlwx #smoke pic.twitter.com/qnDoy0BRfK

— Aaron (@AaronWBanks) November 16, 2017

Ive spent the night talking w/ firemen I served w/ in #STL.

When normally brash guys quietly say today was “the scariest moment of my career” or “I felt bricks hitting my heels”, they aren’t bragging.

I dont think most people realize how close we came to a major tragedy today. pic.twitter.com/DV3lsVzHE4

— Gregg Favre (@GreggFavre) November 16, 2017

Creeping on a fire in Botanical Heights neighborhood today. Still burning tonight.

A post shared by darthdoe (@darthdoe) on Nov 15, 2017 at 4:16pm PST

3900blk of Park - Defensive operations ongoing. 16 hours later. #currentsituation #STLCity pic.twitter.com/ZezhcfLOux

— St. Louis Fire Dept (@STLFireDept) November 16, 2017