Aftermath of the Five Points Halloween Fire — The 1300 block of 20th Street S was devastated by a fire on Halloween. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

On Halloween, Birmingham’s Five Points South neighborhood was rocked by an early-morning fire that devastated three buildings on the 1300 block of 20th Street S. Although no one was injured, 19 residents have been displaced and suffered the loss of nearly everything they owned. Read on to learn more about the fire and how you can help the victims.

Five Points South devastated by fire on Halloween

Fire in Five Points South on 10/31/2025 — The fire began in the early morning hours of Halloween. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

The fire began just before dawn on Friday in the Haskins William residence, a vacant Victorian Colonial Revival style house constructed in 1901 and located at 1312 20th Street South. Despite the quick response of the Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service, the blaze quickly spread to the neighboring Dian Apartments (1314–1318 20th Street South) and Cobb Lane Apartments (1300 20th Street S), two historic apartment buildings dating back to the early 1900s.

Although the Birmingham Fire & Rescue Service got the fire under control on Friday, it continued to smolder well into Saturday afternoon.

See photos of the aftermath below, taken on Sunday, Nov. 2.

The Haskins Williams Residence (1901)

Cobb Lane Apartments (1909)

The fire devastated each of the buildings on Cobb Lane, a historic cobblestone street running parallel to 20th Street S. Among the damaged buildings were the former homes of the Blue Monkey Lounge, Delta Blues Hot Tamales, Cobb Lane Restaurant and what was left of The J. Clyde.

Bham Now followers recently shared their favorite memories of Cobb Lane on Facebook—click here to read and contribute.

Dian Apartments (1913)

How you can help residents + businesses displaced by the fire

Miraculously, none of the residents of the Cobb Lane and Dian Apartments were injured in the fire; however, 19 people lost their homes and everything but the clothes on their backs, and at least one business was completely destroyed.

Below are links to several GoFundMe campaigns started for residents impacted by the blaze.

Support Savanah and Co-Tenants After Fire — “This past Friday, October 31, 2025, tragedy struck when the entire block was lost to fire. It was heartbreaking to see this cherished part of Birmingham — a place filled with so many memories — go up in flames.”
Help Emily and Lawrence After Fire — “I’m raising funds for my sister, Emily, and her partner, Lawrence, who experienced a catastrophic fire in their apartment in Birmingham, AL, in the early morning hours of October 31, 2025. Emily and Lawrence are hardworking recent college graduates, and losing everything when they are just starting out is devastating financially and emotionally.”
Support Dev, Molloy, and Brick After Fire — “My dear friends Dev and Molloy — and Molloy’s sweet cat, Brick — survived a devastating apartment fire. (I just got word that Brick is missing and may be in the Five Points area in bham. If you see him please let us know!) Thankfully, they all made it out safely, but their apartment and possessions weren’t so lucky.”
- Note: Brick, Molly’s orange cat, has been missing since the fire. Please keep an eye out for Brick if you are around Five Points South.

Brick, the orange cat belonging to Molloy, has been missing since the fire. Please keep an eye out for Brick in Five Points South and the surrounding area. (Ashley Denslow)

Help Jessica Rebuild After Devastating Fire — “My friend, Jessica, apartment burned down early this morning close to Five Points in Birmingham, AL. She has lost everything but the clothes on her back and her dog. Jess is a hardworking, independent, passionate, loyal, driven, and kind person who is so generous with others, and now it’s our turn to be generous.”
Help Rebuild Life After Apartment Fire — “This morning, we woke up to devastating news that the apartment was on fire. The roof has since caved in. All belongings are likely destroyed as the entire building is in flames.”
Help Mollie Rebuild After Devastating Fire — “A devastating fire recently destroyed everything my brother’s girlfriend, Mollie, owned. In just minutes, she lost her home, clothes, and all of her personal belongings. While we’re beyond thankful that she’s safe, she’s truly starting from scratch and facing a long road ahead.”
Help Rebuild Laurel’s Salon After Fire – “Earlier this year, my best friend Laurel opened the doors to her dream, a beautiful salon that quickly became more than just a business. It was a safe space, a place of peace, healing, laughter, and transformation for everyone who walked through her doors.”
Southside Fire destroys Local Business – “Afterglow Esthetics has been completely lost in a devastating fire, leaving its owner — a hardworking small businesswoman who built this dream from the ground up — without her livelihood. She has poured her heart into creating a warm, welcoming space where every client feels beautiful, confident, and cared for.”