In a late-night incident that extended well into the early hours today, firefighters from multiple departments grappled with a significant blaze at the Sto-Away Self Storage in Rochester Hills, as confirmed by Assistant Chief Ann Echols of the Rochester Hills Fire Department in reports by ClickOnDetroit and FOX 2 Detroit. The fire started around 9 p.m. Tuesday and was finally put out approximately eight and a half hours later, with no injuries reported.
The storage facility located on John R, between School and Avon roads, saw about 80 self-storage units affected by the fire contained to one of the complex's twelve buildings; the fire was challenging for the emergency responders to contain because of the storage facility's internal configuration and metal components that kept the heat, Echols detailed in her statement to The Detroit News, an excavator was also brought in to open part of the roof to reach some of the interior units.
At the fire's peak, an estimated 55 fire personnel were on-site from the Rochester Hills Fire Department and seven mutual aid departments, tackling the intense heat and structural challenges posed by the facility. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office is spearheading the investigation into the fire's cause, which, as of now, remains undetermined.
Meanwhile, Sto-Away Storage has temporarily shut down operations, addressing the incident on their website, "Our facility grounds and main office is closed to the public until we’re given the clear to enter for safety purposes ... We are working hard with investigation teams and our insurance company to ensure we can provide answers and next steps to all who are impacted," detailed on its website and shared by The Detroit News, the company also promised to keep affected tenants updated as information becomes available.
