Fairview Heights police, mall security battle fire at St. Clair Square food court

Fire damaged part of the food court at the St. Clair Square shopping mall Wednesday night.

Capt. Justin Loepker said the Fairview Heights Fire Department received a call from mall security at 9:04 p.m. saying smoke and flames were visible at the Takozz Mexican food restaurant in the food court.

No injuries were reported.

“The mall was closed for about an hour before the alarm went off,” Loepker said. “The alarm came into mall security, and they called 911 because they saw smoke and flames.”

Loepker said the firefighters arrived to find the mall security and the Fairview Heights Police officers “extinguishing the fire with fire extinguishers.” They remained to clear the mall of smoke.

The St. Clair County Health Department is inspecting the entire food court for food safety concerns before it can reopen, Loepker said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.