ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Escanaba Department of Public Safety is still investigating the cause of an industrial fire earlier this week.
On Thursday, multiple agencies responded to flames and heavy smoke at Race Ramps around noon. According to officials, it took several hours to contain the blaze. All workers were safely evacuated from the building, and no injuries were reported among Race Ramps employees or first responders.
When City Electric Department crews returned to the scene Friday morning to repair a damaged utility pole, they found that it was still smoldering, along with parts of the facility. Escanaba Public Safety informed WZMQ 19 that there were cardboard pallets under the collapsed ceiling, creating hot spots. Public Safety collaborated with the City’s Public Works department to excavate the rubble and separate the pallets from the ceiling.
The neighboring property is where Escanaba school buses are housed. While the bus garage did not catch fire, at least four of the buses suffered damage. Mechanics will be brought in to check the status of the remaining buses in the coming weeks.
WZMQ 19 will continue to provide updates on the investigation into the fire as more information becomes available.
