Over 1 Week Later, Commercial Fire In Detroit Continues To Burn
DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit firefighters have been called back to a factory on the city's east side that began burning more than a week ago.
Officials say the fire actually started early Feb.5 at the Palmer Promotional Products plant in the 1600 block of Farnsworth, just east of I-75 and Warren Avenue. Nearby residents say smoke has been billowing from the complex ever since.
Crews who initially responded to the fire were evacuated after receiving word that the building was filled with hazardous chemicals. Since then, fire crews have been prohibited from entering the building because the structure is unsound, according to officials. Workers have been using excavators to demolish parts of the multi-story structure, which was built in the early 1900s.
A supervisor said the fire department was called back to the building Thursday morning to be on "standby" as workers continue demolition efforts.
A fire chief previously told WWJ that several separate fires were set inside of the building, although an official cause remains under investigation.
Earlier this week, a firefighter on the scene was injured when a north wall of the building collapsed. He was taken to an area hospital and is expected to fully recover.