ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Escanaba area has been hit hard by a string of fires this year. Now, law enforcement is addressing suspicions of an arsonist targeting local businesses.
In a press release, Escanaba Public Safety says while it understands the worry caused by multiple fires occurring in a short period of time, officials would notify the public and the media if they had credible information suggesting the threat of an arsonist.
In the past year, there has been one confirmed arson case in Delta County, but it was not in the City of Escanaba. That case occurred in September at the Rapid River Pub, where customers and staff reported seeing the accused arsonist committing the crime.
“We had witnesses that were outside,” pub owner Tom Scozinsky told WZMQ 19 the morning after the fire. “Reviewing the cameras, the pub did shake, and we do have an explosion here in the back alley. Accelerants have been found in the back area.”
Early rumors of a potential arsonist in Escanaba began circulating after a fire at the Stonehouse Restaurant, which happened about a week before the year started. Officials spent more than two months investigating the cause of the fire. They conducted “extensive” witness interviews and reviewed security footage, which showed the fire starting in the ceiling joints of a basement utility room.
Although Public Safety said the cause of the Stonehouse fire was “inconclusive,” officials reported the likely source of ignition as an electrical wiring malfunction. They said there was no evidence suggesting human involvement.
In May of this year, the Bonifas Arts Center caught fire during a thunderstorm, leading to the destruction of its theater. An investigator determined that the cause of the fire was a lightning strike.
On July 23, agencies responded to a fire at U.P. Towing & Recycling on 9th Avenue North. While they worked to contain the blaze, the property owner told WZMQ 19 that an explosion occurred when an employee drilled into a gas can.
Days later, a fire broke out at Mo’s Pub on Ludington Street, causing a closure that is still in effect today. That fire was reported to have originated in the kitchen, as can be seen by the part of the building that took the majority of the damage.
Currently, Public Safety is investigating the cause of a fire at the House of Ludington on December 5. Officers have stated that the initial smoke was found in a storage room.
The Department of Public Safety notes that human involvement in the start of a fire does not equate to arson.
“Arson, by definition, requires either intent or reckless disregard,” Public Safety Captain Austin Young told WZMQ 19 in an email.
For example, in January of 2024, a fire on the 1000 block of Ludington Street killed one individual, destroyed businesses Schwalbach Kitchens and Trinkets & Treasures, and caused severe damage to The Beaten Path and the East Ludington Gallery, the latter of which eventually moved to another location. The subsequent investigation found that the fire originated by “human introduction of the ignition source to flammable material.”
“However,” Young explained, “because the individual involved died in the fire, investigators were unable to establish intent or recklessness. As a result, the fire could not be definitively classified as arson. The cause was identified as human-related, but the manner (intentional vs. accidental) could not be determined.”
In its recent press release, Escanaba Public Safety says citizens’ safety “is and always will be” the top priority. The Department is working with property owners to improve fire safety and to upgrade buildings wherever possible to reduce future risks.
For more from the Escanaba Public Safety Department, click here.
