Facing hazardous conditions, firefighters took up a defensive posture and worked overnight battling heavy flames at an abandoned warehouse in Spokane, WA.

According to a press release from the Spokane Fire Department, units were dispatched to the commercial structure fire at the former S and P Meats slaughterhouse on Regal St. at around 8:30 pm Sunday night.

Crews found heavy smoke and fire visible from several blocks out before arriving at the building, which was known to the department as abandoned and hazardous, and a second alarm was struck shortly after size-up.

Companies stretched hose lines for attack, performed vertical ventilation and rapidly searched the building, but due to structural instability, hazardous interior conditions, and multiple void spaces allowing unchecked fire spread, they withdrew into a defensive operation after confirming the building was vacant.

Operations continued into early Monday and then well into daylight hours. The fire remained confined to the building of origin and resulted in a total loss, and there were no injuries to firefighters or civilians.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation by SFD's Special Investigations Unit.