A large fire followed by multiple explosions at a building in suburban Detroit killed one person and injured a firefighter.
A devastating fire followed by multiple explosions rocked a building in suburban Detroit, resulting in the tragic death of one person and injuring a firefighter. As authorities investigate the cause of the inferno, attention has turned to the operations of a vaping supply distributor housed within the facility.
The incident, which occurred in Clinton Township, left residents shaken as loud explosions rattled the area. According to Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan, the explosions were likely triggered by canisters containing gas chemicals stored inside the building. Investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working to determine the exact cause of the fire.
The building served as a distribution centre for the vaping industry under the name Goo. Chief Duncan revealed that the canisters housed within contained nitrous and butane, substances not permitted for storage by the business.
Shockingly, a recent delivery of butane canisters arrived at the site just days before the blaze, with a significant portion of the stock still on hand when the fire erupted. Additionally, over 100,000 vape pens were stored within the building, adding to the volatile mix of materials.
Professor Ben Ilozor from Eastern Michigan University, specializing in architecture, construction, and engineering, explained that the combination of vape pens and gas canisters turned the site into a potential powder keg. "All of the vape pens are missiles," he stated, emphasizing the hazardous nature of the materials involved.
Authorities believe that the tragic death occurred when one of the canisters struck a bystander who was observing the blaze from a distance. Meanwhile, a firefighter sustained injuries from flying glass after one of the canisters shattered the windshield of a nearby vehicle.
Despite the devastation, Clinton Township officials reassured residents that there is no immediate danger to air quality in the area. Hazardous materials crews conducted air monitoring, detecting nothing of concern. However, cautionary measures are being taken, with the site to be fenced off and guarded as cleanup efforts commence.