Industrial Fire, Explosions Shoot Debris Into the Air in Detroit

A fire raging at an industrial facility caused multiple explosions that rocked suburban Detroit on Monday night and sent debris shooting far into the air, prompting police to implore residents to stay inside.

The debris fell as far as a mile (1.6 kilometers) away, the Clinton Township Police Department said. Authorities said they didn’t know exactly what was burning or the potential health effects from it.

“We cannot stress enough the danger that is happening right now,” one police post said. “Please, please, please stay inside and out of the vicinity.”

Police said the fire was burning near 15 Mile Road and Groesbeck Highway. News helicopter videos showed a massive, bright orange area of fire with bursts of flames within the blaze that looked like explosions.

Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel told WDIV channel late Monday that the explosions started around 9 p.m. at the Select Distributors plant and that Clinton Township officers and firefighters immediately responded.

“They understand some type of CO2 or propane explosions were taking place at the facility, and again, it was just continuous explosions, as well as the fire,” Hackel said.

After 11 p.m., he told the news outlet that the fire had been contained.