A hazardous materials crew was called to the scene of a two alarm fire at the Detroit Department of Transportation maintenance and dispatch yard to help cleanup after hundreds of gallons of fuel burned through the city’s west side neighborhood early on December 7.
According to the Detroit News, at least six buses were destroyed and one firefighter was injured in the blaze at the Schaefer Highway facility.
Detroit Fire Department’s Donald Austin told the news agency that crews were hampered by thick smoke, a collapsed roof and the fact that the sprinklers at the facility failed to activate.
“There are two possible reasons why the sprinklers didn’t work,” Austin added. “Either because the space, which is 40 feet wide by about 150 yards long, didn’t allow the sprinklers to reach 135 degrees in order to go off. It’s also possible the system wasn’t in service.”
Firefighters also had to deal with several small explosions, prompting a hazmat 2 situation. Clean up crews can protect themselves with top products from Impact Absorbents including the Tychem TK 650 Deluxe Level A Rear Entry Suit and Ambi-dex Disposable Latex Gloves when dealing with dangerous conditions.
Fire officials said they are not sure exactly what started the fire.
