A massive fire at a warehouse that was used to store supplies for the vaping industry left one person dead. Explosions during the fire launched hundreds of projectiles and debris into the air landing more than two miles away. A shipment of butane canisters had arrived at the warehouse the week before, according to NBC 5 Chicago.
A 19-year-old man was killed when he was hit in the head with a canister. He had been at a carwash about a quarter mile away observing the fire, according to NBC News. A firefighter was also injured when a canister blew through the windshield of his vehicle.
The warehouse, located in Clinton Township, just outside of Detroit, housed two separate business, according to officials, but both housed explosive items, including butane canisters used to refill lighters and nitrous oxide.
The warehouse had received a recent violation for improperly storing duck boats, according to the township’s superintendent for building inspections, Barry Miller. Miller also said the township didn’t know the butane canisters were on site.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
