Vehicle fire ignites building, propane tanks

Brian Rowell Daily Press Wednesday morning’s fire at the U.P. Towing & Recycling building, 2311 9th Avenue North, produced a thick plume of black smoke that was visible throughout the city.
A vehicle on fire inside the U.P. Towing & Recycling building, located at 2311 9th Avenue North, lit fire shortly before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, setting off a chain reaction of exploding propane and acetylene tanks that hindered firefighters and sent shrapnel onto neighboring buildings.
Not long after, firefighters responding arrived on scene at 10:28 a.m. it was determined that there were live electrical wires on the ground on one side of the building, multiple propane tanks in and around the building — some of which were 300 pound tanks — and oxygen and acetylene tanks like those used for welding and oxy-acetylene cutting.
Those near the fire reported hearing explosions every few minutes. Some explosions resulted in plumes of fire that could be seen from a distance.
All employees of the U.P. Towing & Recycling evacuated the building safely before explosions began.
The firefighting efforts were further hindered because there was only one fire hydrant available in the area. Tanker trucks were brought in to help bring water to the scene and water was brought in from hydrants further away. At least one city hydrant lost pressure during the firefighting efforts.
During the fire, the city of Escanaba advised restaurants and other food service establishments on North Lincoln Road between the U.P. State Fairgrounds and Ludington Street to refrain from using water-fed beverage or food equipment, such as coffee makers and soda machines, due to a possibility the firefighting efforts would create dirty water. If dirty water occurred, businesses were advised to run their water for five to ten minutes to clear the line.
Firefighting crews cleared the scene of the fire around 1:45 p.m.
Assisting Escanaba Public Safety at the scene were DTE, the Escanaba Electric Department, Ford River Township Fire Department, Escanaba Township Fire Department, Bark River Township Fire Department, Brampton Township Fire Department and Rampart EMS. EL&S Rail Road also closed down the portion of track that traveled through the area.

Adam Hinch Daily Press
A vehicle caught fire in a building Wednesday morning at the U.P. Towing & Recycling building, located at 2311 9th Avenue North. The building caught fire, setting off a chain reaction of exploding propane and acetylene tanks.