At 1:08 PM, Thursday, October 14, 2004, Savannah firefighters were dispatched to 1301 Montgomery Street on the report of a structure fire. First arriving Captain D. Pridgeon reported heavy black smoke showing from Station 5, which is located only three blocks away. Upon arrival at 1:09, an interior fire attack was initiated but conditions quickly deteriorated due to the heavy fire load. A Task Force 2 (additional Engine, Truck and Rescue) was requested, and tactics then changed to a defensive operation. In the end, the original structure was declared a total loss. Due to the instability of the remaining walls, the rest of the building was torn down before the sun set on the scene. Two surrounding warehouses and an multi-unit apartment were spared damage from the rapidly spreading. Companies rotated throughout the night on fire watch. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries during the incident, no civilians were injured.