Shuttered Detroit Library Branch Goes Up In Smoke

DETROIT (WWJ) - Authorities are investigating a suspicious fire that broke out at a former Detroit Public Library branch that has been closed and boarded up for years.

The fire took off early Thursday morning at the shuttered library branch on Gratiot Avenue at Moran, across the street from the Faygo plant.

Police say papers were flying everywhere when they got to the scene. Fire Battalion Chief John Slavick said crews initially started attacking the blaze from the outside before breaking through the boarded up windows to get inside.

"At this point, alls we know it is was boarded up and secured and there was fire on the inside, that's about it," Slavick told WWJ's Mike Campbell. "They went in there with handlines and put the fire out."

No injuries were reported.

A cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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• Detroit
• Fire