[2] The story concerns the events over the course of a single evening in a recently completed 66-story building in an unnamed American city.

A small home furnishings store owner, despondent over his near bankruptcy, decides to burn his business down for the insurance.

A part of the story deals with a TV reporter named Quantrell, who, using a disgruntled former employee of the contractor, was given copies of documents relating to the building's construction.

Barton and Infantino, who have been friends before the fire, work to understand what is happening to the building as flames race through its poorly constructed heart.

The story continues as it shows the efforts of other residents of the building - including the brave Lisolette - attempting to escape the flames, some successful, some not.