Fire destroys another vacant building in Cairo, Ill.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Firefighters from several departments struggled to contain an explosive fire Monday in Cairo, Ill., where another vacant historic building was destroyed.

Crews from Cairo, Mounds City, Ill., and Mounds, Ill., responded to the fire around 6:30 p.m. in the 800 block of Commercial Street. Although Monday's fire was the first big blaze of 2011, Cairo firefighters responded to a handful of fires in October and November. The fires last year destroyed three businesses, including the city's only Chinese restaurant and an old, vacant lounge called the Speakeasy.

As crews tried to control the fire Monday, the brick building's walls began to collapse one by one. Around 7:30 p.m., one wall's collapse caused a power outage in the area.

Police officers blocking off the area on Commercial Street said the fire may have been caused by some individuals who were cutting metal behind the building. They said they had several suspects in custody.

A witness watching the firefighters said the building, which housed an old clothing and footwear manufacturing company, has been vacant at least 20 years. The destroyed building is neighbor to a local bar, Fat Boys.

The owner said the fire had already taken out a beer garden between the vacant building and his bar.