A historic Detroit building, the Woodbridge Gallery, was engulfed in a massive fire earlier today leaving it in ruins. Located on the city's west side on Forest near Grand River Ave. and Warren, the fire swept through the structure initially reported at around 4 a.m., according to WWJ Newsradio 950.
The blaze became so intense that at one point, firefighters had to quickly withdraw from the building for safety reasons. "We pulled up, there was fire in the middle, blowing through the roof in the middle of the building," Fire Chief Christian Spitzig told WWJ Newsradio 950. "We made entry ... They tried really hard to get it, couldn't get it. So, we had to back them out for safety reasons, obviously."
Teams from the Detroit Fire Department fought to contain the fire, deploying five engines and two ladder trucks, which succeeded in preventing spread to nearby buildings. No injuries were reported in the incident. The historic structure had not functioned as a gallery for some time and was being used for car storage, as WWJ Newsradio 950 indicated. Still, there may have been some artwork within the premises.
Meanwhile, local residents, noting that the building had been empty for years, observed the intensity of the fire as embers were sent into the sky. The sound of exploding tires, likely from vehicles stored inside, could be heard as firefighters took precautions and eventually called all personnel out once the situation escalated. "Initially, firefighters were inside the building, but they were called back out because it became unsafe. That's when the ladders went up and they started spraying from above," was reported by WXYZ.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Detroit Fire Department.
