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Wayne State's Maccabees Building Fire Extinguished With No Injuries

Investigators cite an electrical failure in an 11th-floor air-handling unit as the likely cause.

Overview

  • The blaze that broke out around 1 p.m. Wednesday on an exterior platform by the 11th floor was declared out by about 1:30 p.m.
  • Detroit fire crews arrived in under five minutes with roughly 60 firefighters and medics and kept flames from spreading beyond the upper floor.
  • All occupants evacuated safely without injuries after alarms and recent drills, according to Wayne State University police.
  • Officials say an electrical fault in an air-handling unit tied to the building’s heating and cooling system likely started the fire, with a full investigation continuing.
  • Most reported damage is from firefighting water on floors nine through eleven, and the 1927 Albert Kahn–designed tower remains under review for repairs and access.