Residents of Roseville, Michigan, were able to breathe easier after a shelter-in-place order was lifted following a large industrial building fire. According to CBS News Detroit, the order was issued shortly before noon yesterday and subsequently lifted around 1:40 p.m. The fire erupted at an RCO Engineering plant located near 12 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway. While the fire caused substantial disruption, including road closures and air quality concerns, no injuries were reported.
The response to the incident was a coordinated effort, with first responders from multiple neighboring departments, including Eastpointe, Warren, and Clinton Township, coming together to tackle the blaze. Macomb County Emergency Management, in partnership with the Roseville Fire Department, utilized local alert systems and social media to quickly disseminate the emergency notice to the community. Fire crews had to continually work to not just contain the blaze but also monitor the local environment for safety. According to Audacy, the shelter-in-place order was necessary due to smoke and possible chemical concerns.
Macomb County officials confirmed that air quality testing showed it was safe to lift the shelter-in-place order. RCO Engineering also expressed gratitude to first responders, assuring the public that all employees were safe and accounted for. The company stated that the fire had no impact on its operations or customers.
Details on the fire's cause remain limited as an investigation was set to begin today. The Macomb Daily reported an explosion was heard before the fire caused the roof to collapse. Roseville Fire Chief Keith Jacobs told the Macomb Daily, "It all started when a worker heard a loud boom and noticed smoke throughout the building."
The fire affected nearby institutions, including Macomb Community College's South Campus and Roseville Middle School. The school kept students in classrooms but planned to dismiss at the usual time. Roseville's Earth Day event was relocated to Spindler Park in Eastpointe, as announced by the Roseville Public Library on social media.
Environmental response teams from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the EPA were also reported to be on site, as mentioned by Audacy, to address potential chemical contaminants potentially reaching local waterways. The full impact of the incident and future preventive measures are to be determined once the investigation is complete, the RCO Engineering stated.
