Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
Significant Fire Engulfs Roseville Industrial Building
A large fire erupted early Tuesday morning at a 20,000-square-foot industrial facility in Roseville, leading to emergency evacuations and a brief shelter-in-place order, as reported by authorities.
The blaze, classified as a second-alarm fire, ignited around 10:20 a.m. at the location on 12 Mile Road, situated between Hayes Road and Groesbeck Highway. The fire was reportedly triggered after a witness inside the building noted a “large boom,” according to Roseville Fire Chief Keith Jacobs.
The affected facility is one of 13 operated by RCO Engineering Inc., a local manufacturer that supplies the aerospace, automotive, and defense sectors.
When firefighters arrived, they encountered thick smoke emanating from the building. Efforts to reach the fire’s origin were hampered by concerns regarding potentially hazardous materials inside, prompting a tactical withdrawal. Chief Jacobs stated, “We focused on evacuations while we continued to try to get to the seat of the fire. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to. So the fire spread throughout the entire building.”
Fortunately, all individuals present were successfully evacuated, although the exact number of occupants at the time remains undisclosed.
Businesses in proximity to the fire, particularly those southeast toward Groesbeck Highway, were also evacuated as a precaution. By noon, Macomb County had issued a shelter-in-place directive for residents within a half-mile radius of the site. This alert was lifted less than two hours later after air quality assessments indicated no immediate health threats.
Fire crews managed to bring the situation under control within approximately three hours, although the building sustained extensive damage. Notably, there were no reported injuries.
While it remains uncertain if any chemicals within the facility were exposed to the blaze, Jacobs indicated that many were stored behind protective fire doors, which may have mitigated risks. The shelter-in-place measure was taken as a preventive step.
Officials from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy have been alerted to monitor water runoff stemming from the incident.
More: Detroit Riverfront Conservancy requests maximum prison sentence for ex-CFO
Operations at RCO Engineering’s other facilities remained unaffected during the incident. The company assured stakeholders in a social media statement that the fire has not disrupted business operations or its customer service commitments, stating, “We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and service.”
The response effort drew support from surrounding fire departments, including those from Eastpointe, Warren, St. Clair Shores, Clinton Township, Fraser, and Mt. Clemens
“I believe our crews did an excellent job to contain this and protect the local businesses and the environment,” Chief Jacobs remarked.
The investigation into the cause of the fire is currently ongoing.
Source
www.yahoo.com