CLICK TO SEE EXCLUSIVE RRN FOOTAGE FROM WEDNESDAY’S FIRE INCIDENT
One person is dead after a fire broke out in downtown Escanaba early Wednesday morning..
Escanaba Public Safety officers sauy they were first dispatched to 1011 Ludgington Street at 1:55 a.m.
When crews arrived, they saw flames shooting from the building through the roof and through the door of the building, which housed Schwalbach Kitchens and Teasures & Trinkets. As the fire quickly spread, mutual aid calls went to fire crews from Escanaba Township, Ford River Township, Brampton Township, and Masonville Township, as well as the Michigan State Police, Delta County Sheriff’s Department, and Gladstone Public Safety.
The officers checked nearby buildings to evacuate people, and about eight hours into the firefight, they realized that one person was still unaccounted for. Once the fire was finally out late Wednesday morning, they found the body of an unidentified man.
Both businesses were destroyed in the fire, with neighboring businesses (The Beaten Path and East Ludington Gallery) also suffferuing heavy water and other damage. No estimates are yet available for the amount of damage that was done.
Brunette & Son Excavating was called to help to clear the debris as crews continued to put out hot spots in the early morning hours. No other injuries were reported, and crews were on the scene until 2:00 Wednesday afternoon.
The investigation is under way to determine a cause of the fire, and thus far, the name of the man who died in the blaze has not been released.
Power was out along the south side of Ludington Street deep into the morning, which also knocked several radio stations off the air, with the Radio Results Media Plaza being located just a block away. The RRN Media Plaza was not damaged in the incident.
There was also considerable flooding in downtown Escanaba throughout Wednesday morning, as several ladder trucks were utilized to pump water for many hours.
Officers also had their water hoses freeze up at times as the temperature hovered around the 32-degree mark all night long.Publis Safey is asking everyone to stay away from that cordoned off area because of all of the debris in the area, and the weak condition of the remainder of the burned-out buildings.
Officers are also thanking the people who donated coffee, water, and food for the dozens of firefighters and officers who were involved in the 12-hour-long battle.
The American Red Cross was also thanked for its help.
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