More than three weeks after a stubborn fire broke out at the Advance Office Building on Greenfield Road in Southfield, investigators still have no answer to the big question: what sparked the blaze? The multitenant complex remains sealed while crews work to stabilize the structure, and city inspectors have yet to get inside to verify that the building is safe.
As reported by FOX 2 Detroit, crews on scene have not been able to determine why the Advance building caught fire. Inspectors told the station that they cannot sign off on the property until structural teams confirm it is sound enough to enter.
The blaze was first reported on March 1 in the 23000 block of Greenfield Road, according to New Media Detroit, which noted that the complex houses medical offices along with a heavy concentration of jewelry-related businesses. That initial report also stated there were no confirmed injuries and that the Southfield Fire Department urged the public to steer clear of the area while firefighters worked.
What’s Inside the Advance Building
The property manager lists the site as 23077 Greenfield Road and describes it as a multistory office complex, according to the building listing with Najor Companies. Local reporting has long pointed to the third floor as home to dozens of jewelers alongside medical and professional tenants, a combination that could make recovery especially tricky for small businesses now waiting to learn the extent of the damage.
Safety, Inspections, and a Long Wait
Officials told FOX 2 Detroit that inspectors are still sidelined until structural crews declare the building safe to occupy. With that clearance on hold, there is no set timetable for when tenants might return or when the complex could reopen.
What Comes Next
City and fire officials have not released a schedule for completing the investigation or announcing an official cause, according to available reporting. For now, the Advance Building remains shut, its tenants in limbo, as engineers and investigators work through the aftermath. This story will be updated as officials and the building owner release new information.
