Crews Battle Massive Fire At Downtown Savannah, Georgia Construction Site Hours Later

More than three hours after a massive fire engulfed a large construction site in downtown Savannah, Georgia, crews were still battling the blaze.

Savannah Fire Department officials said 20 crews were still working to extinguish the fire at the Eastern Wharf complex just after 5 p.m. Thursday. The fire was reported around 12:30 p.m.

Officials said crews from Pooler and Garden City joined to battle the 3-alarm fire around 6 p.m.

Savannah officials no injuries were reported in the massive fire at the construction site located on the east side of the downtown area along President Street.

Savannah Police have blocked off Bay Street between East Broad and East President streets. General McIntosh Boulevard is also closed. Motorists are asked to avoid the downtown area as emergency vehicles were making their way through the city.

Savannah mayor Van Johnson called the fire an “extraordinary event” and said he was very thankful there were no injuries or deaths in the massive fire.

Johnson said officials do not know the cause of the fire as of 2 p.m. Thursday.

He said the Savannah fire chief himself was suited up and fighting the fire.

Power has been cut off in some areas surrounding the Eastern Wharf complex.

More than 300 luxury apartments were being built on this large 54-acre development, according to the Savannah Morning News. The apartments were set to be open sometime this spring. The complex, under construction since 2018, included soon-to-be living, retail, and office spaces.

Smoke and flames could be seen for miles around the downtown Savannah area Thursday afternoon.

Here are the latest videos and photos of the fire officials say they believe started on the fifth floor of the building:

15 units are on scene working to extinguish the fire at the massive Eastern Wharf Construction Site. @cityofsavannah pic.twitter.com/0MjmsNVOFi

— Savannah Fire Department (@savannahfire) February 27, 2020

Eastern Wharf Construction Site Fire @cityofsavannah pic.twitter.com/Pd1pbFdmfL

— Savannah Fire Department (@savannahfire) February 27, 2020

Crews continue to battle the Eastern Wharf Construction Site Fire. @cityofsavannah pic.twitter.com/75XVaRVCyk

— Savannah Fire Department (@savannahfire) February 27, 2020

Just got on scene of this massive fire at the Eastern Wharf hotel development in downtown Savannah. pic.twitter.com/iw5amtWNx9

— Ricardo Lewis (@RicardoWSAV) February 27, 2020

Downtown Savannah construction fire. #savannah #fire #Construction #crane pic.twitter.com/0VkAtObg8O

— ?????Sonny???? (@SonnyGreene75) February 27, 2020

Fire at the Eastern Wharf Hotel construction site is believed to have begun on the 5th floor. @cityofsavannah pic.twitter.com/knyLDz5C8I

— Savannah Fire Department (@savannahfire) February 27, 2020

Fire in downtown Savannah! Saw it so I threw the drone up. pic.twitter.com/nGlrCW2FxD

— carolines Funny jokes!? (@IanmCastellano) February 27, 2020

Major Fire in downtown Savannah Historic District @HLNTV @cnnbrk pic.twitter.com/RXkWA6rNWb

— Tanya Dargusch (@WTATC88) February 27, 2020

OMG. The new downtown Savannah East Wharf apartment complex. @WTOC11 @WSAV pic.twitter.com/IyC5Y97xvX

— Frederick Doyle (@Fpgdoyle) February 27, 2020

This was taken about 30 minutes ago in downtown Savannah. Massive fire can be seen for miles pic.twitter.com/ldYRFXcJA7

— Mandy Matney (@MandyMatney) February 27, 2020

We are on our way to a HUGE fire off of President St near Downtown Savannah. Traffic is backed up and we’ve seen tons of police, firefighter and EMS headed that way. pic.twitter.com/oK0NDfR4Gc

— Alex Bozarjian (@wsavalexb) February 27, 2020

Downtown Savannah fire at construction site.
Hoping everyone is ok and the crane doesn't collapse. #fire #savannah #construction pic.twitter.com/sgQmd3k7a1

— ?????Sonny???? (@SonnyGreene75) February 27, 2020

Be careful downtown guys. New townhomes on fire. No one is currently living in them. Sirens can now be heard on the scene. #savannah pic.twitter.com/MCXKfDFhaX

— Shelby Kennedy (@KennArtShelby) February 27, 2020

New construction #fire. Downtown #Savannah. pic.twitter.com/TJZZbK1e72

— Lisa Denmark (@lldenmark) February 27, 2020

According to meteorologists, the smoke was seen on radar stretching for miles and moving toward the coast.

Smoke is visible on radar from the fire just east of downtown Savannah. It is being blown toward the coast. pic.twitter.com/aoNbwWPIOj

— Andrew Gorton WTOC (@AndrewGortonWx) February 27, 2020

The Smoke Plume & Particles from this Large Structure Fire in Downtown Savannah stretches 11 miles downwind! #gawx #Georgia #Savannah pic.twitter.com/tz4emuKIvd

— James Sinko (@JamesSinko) February 27, 2020

This story is developing..

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