Early this morning, a significant industrial fire erupted at Aevitas Specialty Services, an oil recycling company located on Detroit's east side. According to a CBS News report, the fire was discovered around 2:30 a.m. by two employees after one smelled rubber and they were unable to get the situation under control, prompting them to call 911. The Detroit Fire Department responded to the scene after a delivery driver witnessed the smoke and heard a pop, as detailed in a notice obtained by WXYZ.
As firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control, concerns were heightened due to the presence of sulfuric acid and a 200-gallon oil drum on the premises. "Our biggest concern was a 2,000 gallon tank of sulfuric acid," Detroit Fire Department Duty Chief Michael Borg said in a statement obtained by Audacy. Despite the potentially hazardous materials involved, Borg mentioned that no evacuations were deemed necessary at the time, though the situation could eventually have to change.
The fire, which sent a plume of black smoke visible for miles into the sky, was reported "shooting up in the air" by witnesses. The efforts of at least 50 firefighters were chronicled by WXYZ, noting the substantial resources deployed to manage the emergency. During the response, one firefighter was injured and reported to be in stable condition after injuring his back while fighting the fire. Authorities later confirmed at 9 a.m. that the fire was under control, but that crews would likely continue to be on the scene for several hours.
The cause of the fire remains unknown as investigations are only barely beginning. Meanwhile, air quality monitoring is actively underway. "Our HAZMAT team is here. They're driving around monitoring the air," Borg told Audacy. Aevitas Specialty Services, the site of the fire, is known to recycle used oil into lubricants for Detroit's automotive industry, holding approximately 100,000 gallons of used oil.
