The former Rock Island Livestock Auction Barn had multiple buildings burn to the ground on Saturday, Feb. 24, but crews were able to save 22 cows and millions of dollars worth of surrounding homes and businesses.
Rock Island Fire Department crews were called out at 5:37 p.m. to 534 34th Ave. According to Rock Island Fire Marshal Greg Marty, crews arrived within three to four minutes of the call and found a large fire already burning on the backside of a barn along the railroad tracks. The main building on fire at first stretched three city blocks, from 34th to 37th Ave. Due to the size of the fire, surrounding fire departments were called immediately. More than a dozen departments from around the county responded, many with water tankers as low water pressure became a concern.