ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – UPDATE 3/22/24: According to the Escanaba Department of Public Safety, the results of the investigation into the fire at 1011 Ludington Street was caused by a someone lighting it, and not mechanical disfunction.
The investigation process into the cause of the fire included the review of video footage captured that night, witness statements, fire scene investigation, and additional investigations in order to determine what lead up to the fire.
Public Safety says that video footage clearly shows the fire coming from the south side of the structure in the beginning stage of the fire, which was supported by witness statements. The findings during the investigation at the fire scene also support that the fire starting at the rear of the building.
The fire scene investigation also further determined that the fire originated on the second story of the structure, which was supported by witness statements. Public Safety concludes that the fire originated in the rear (south) of the building, on the second floor of Trinkets and Treasures, before spreading to adjacent structures.
There was no indication that the ignition source came from a mechanical disfunction, such as electrical, heating, gas, etc. The cause appears to have originated by human introduction of the ignition source to flammable material.
WZMQ will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
As local authorities continue to investigate the cause of a fire that killed one person and destroyed two Downtown Escanaba businesses, one neighboring establishment is working through the effects.
ORIGINAL STORY 1/24/24: At 1:55 a.m. on Wednesday, January 24, the Escanaba Department of Public Safety and other agencies responded to a fire on the 1000 block of Ludington Street.
“Officers arrived on scene to a two-story apartment complex with a commercial store below it, fully engulfed in fire,” said Public Safety Captain Darren Smith. “During that time, at 11:20, a body was discovered.”
Both the identity of the victim and the cause of the fire remain under investigation.
Businesses Trinkets & Treasurse and Schwalbach Kitchens were total losses, although the door to the latter was deemed salvageable. The entire effort took 12 hours.
“It was very difficult,” Smith explained. “The building collapsed within 30 minutes, so we had to use heavy machinery, excavators, to actually peel everything away layer by layer.”
The fire impacted the businesses next door as well, including the East Ludington Gallery. According to gallery president Sandy Wilson, all of the artwork inside sustained smoke damage.
“When the first artist that got in there opened the door, it was completely filled with smoke from the floor probably three-quarters of the way up to the ceiling,” she said. “Everything is covered in soot. We’re on the middle floor so no damage water-wise, just incredible smoke damage.”
Wilson says while the recovery process will be long, East Ludington will come back stronger than ever.
“The gallery was started in 1981, and we’ve been around for that long and really are a staple to Downtown Escanaba,” she said. “The gallery means so much to a lot of people so, we will be back. It’s just a matter of time.”
As the investigation into the fire continues, Escanaba Public Safety asks the public to stay clear of the area.
“The buildings are fenced off, but we don’t want the public up close to it because it is dangerous,” Captain Smith said.
Smith also thanks the community for its support as crews battled the blaze.
“All the mutual aid departments that responded to the scene, countless numbers of agencies and organizations, a lot of people brought out coffee, hot chocolate, food,” he said. “Being on scene for 12 hours, it’s physically, mentally draining, so we appreciate the help.”
WZMQ 19 will continue to update this story as it develops.
