Fire fighting at Roswell Facilities, triggering evacuation and on-site shelter alerts
Officials said a fire ripped a 20,000-square-foot industrial building in Rosville Tuesday morning, prompting evacuation and shelter that lasted nearly two hours.
Roswell Fire Commissioner Keith Jacobs said the second fire broke out between 15711 12 miles between 15711 Hayes Road and Groesbeck Highway at about 10:20 a.m.
The facility is one of 13 facilities operated by RCO Engineering Inc., a Michigan-based manufacturer that serves the automotive, aerospace and defense industries.
Google Maps Screengrab at the RCO engineering facility in Ro Roseville 12 Mile Road.
Jacobs told the Liberty that firefighters arrived and found thick smoke rolling from the building, Jacobs told the Liberty. Worries about possible dangerous chemicals inside also forced crews to retreat.
“We are focused on evacuation … while we continue to try to drive towards the fire,” the fire chief said. “Unfortunately, we can't do it. So the fires are spread throughout the building.”
Everyone inside was evacuated safely. Officials did not say how many people were in the building at that time.
Businesses around the southeast of the fire also evacuated the Groesbeck Expressway to the wind. Around noon, Macomb County issued a shelter alert to residents half a mile southeast of the site. Less than two hours after the air quality test, the alarm did not immediately present a health risk.
The fire was under control within three hours. The building was severely damaged. However, no injuries were taken.
It is not clear whether the internals of the facility were affected by the fire; Jacobs said many people were stored behind the fire door, which could make them safe. Field orders are issued as precautionary measures.
Notify the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to monitor water runoff at the site.
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The operations of other RCO engineering facilities have no impact.
“We want to assure our partners and stakeholders that there is no impact on the rest of the RCO Engineering business or our customers,” the company said in a statement on social media. “RCO Engineering is still in operation and we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and service.”
Fire departments from EastPointe, Warren, St. Clair Shores, Clinton Township, Fraser and Clemens Hill assisted the response.
“I believe our staff have done a great job of curbing it and protecting local businesses and the environment,” Jacobs said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
nOur Rahal is a trend and breakthrough news reporter. Send her an email: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.
This article originally appeared in Detroit Free Press: Roseville Facilities Fire Brigade evacuated, closed area for hours
