Detourdetroit Member Username: Detourdetroit
Post Number: 327 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:28 pm: | |
Does anyone know about this? |
Scs100 Member Username: Scs100
Post Number: 1283 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:30 pm: | |
WWJ reported that the building had caught fire, but that's all I know. |
Higgs1634 Member Username: Higgs1634
Post Number: 142 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:40 pm: | |
well, that sort of focus the discussion on what should be done with it. |
Woodward Member Username: Woodward
Post Number: 21 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:41 pm: | |
i suggest putting it out. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 1190 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:44 pm: | |
Have an irritating empty building near you? Burn it down! It's the Detroit way. |
56packman Member Username: 56packman
Post Number: 1577 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:56 pm: | |
The process has begun |
Higgs1634 Member Username: Higgs1634
Post Number: 143 Registered: 10-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:04 pm: | |
care to take bets on how long the hulking burnt out wreckage will remain standing? |
Maddog Member Username: Maddog
Post Number: 9 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:04 pm: | |
Focusonthed: Great, Tell People to burn down Buildings IDIOT, thats how people (FIREFIGHTER'S) will get hurt or killed..... As if there isnt a big enough arson problem in this city you get on a public fourm and tell someone if they dont like a vacant building to burn it down.... GROW UP (Message edited by maddog on July 30, 2007) |
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 823 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:08 pm: | |
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll /article?AID=/20070730/NEWS01/ 70730041 Two arrested in connection with multiple-alarm blaze at Cass Tech July 30, 2007 BY ZACH GORCHOW AND JOE ROSSITER FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS Flames are shooting from the fifth and sixth floors of the brick and stone building. About 10 rigs are being used to battle the blaze. Authorities think the fire was intentionally set by vagrants found in the building this morning, said Mattie Majors, Detroit Public Schools spokeswoman. Two suspects were arrested, while another is at large. The building, built in 1917, closed at the end of the 2004-05 school year to make way for a $127-million new facility. It has sat vacant and unused since then. Some Cass Tech alumni have wanted to put the building back into use, Majors said. Cass Tech was home to some of the city’s most famous public school students, like singer Diana Ross, comedian Lily Tomlin, actor David Alan Grier and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Firefighters are using water from atop a ladder truck to attempt to bring the flames under control. A team of firefighters was inside the structure breaking out windows to vent smoke and gas from the fire. There is no immediate report of any injuries. Second Avenue is closed at the Fisher Freeway service drive because of hoses and equipment on the street. Read more as the story develops on freep.com. |
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine
Post Number: 1751 Registered: 05-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:14 pm: | |
so if there were "vagrants" in there, is it safe to assume that the building has already been relieved of everything with scrap metal value? |
Detourdetroit Member Username: Detourdetroit
Post Number: 328 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:15 pm: | |
Thanks RWR. That's the most useful post so far... |
Psip Member Username: Psip
Post Number: 1983 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:41 pm: | |
The three-alarm blaze that tore through the old Cass Technical High School buidling, causing two firefighters to suffer heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation, is now under control, fire officials said. "Firefighters did a great job of bringing the fire under control," Detroit Fire Department Lt. Orlando Gregory said. The blaze started about 12:15 p.m. on the first floor of the 8-story building and extended up to at least the sixth floor of the building, officials said. At its peak, flames were shooting from the fifth and sixth floors of the brick and stone building. About 10 rigs were used to battle the blaze. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20070730/NEW S01/70730041/0/BUSINESS06 |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 1191 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:43 pm: | |
quote:Focusonthed: Great, Tell People to burn down Buildings IDIOT, thats how people (FIREFIGHTER'S) will get hurt or killed..... As if there isnt a big enough arson problem in this city you get on a public fourm and tell someone if they dont like a vacant building to burn it down.... GROW UP Maddog, your sarcasm detector is broken, you should take it in for a tuneup. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 1192 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:45 pm: | |
quote:The two men appeared to have been scavenging the building and were throwing pipes and other materials out of a window -- almost striking a woman who was walking down the street, Romero said. Classy, as usual. |
Barnesfoto Member Username: Barnesfoto
Post Number: 3852 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:48 pm: | |
depressing news. |
Exmotowner Member Username: Exmotowner
Post Number: 374 Registered: 06-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:53 pm: | |
No question about what to do with that building now. |
Russix Member Username: Russix
Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:12 pm: | |
Isn't this building constructed out of reinforced concrete, brick, steel, and asphestus? |
Andylinn Member Username: Andylinn
Post Number: 476 Registered: 04-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:13 pm: | |
there is still a question... can anyone say: midmed lofts or globe trading company? |
Rsa Member Username: Rsa
Post Number: 1188 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:16 pm: | |
yes there is. just because there was a fire does not mean the building becomes unuseable. as long as the structure is sound there's just as much possibility to renovate. in this case, things that caught on fire would probably have to be removed for renovation anyway. there's never any absolutes or easy answers for these types of things. stop trying to look for the easy way out. |
Cambrian Member Username: Cambrian
Post Number: 1380 Registered: 08-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:19 pm: | |
I hear City Hall is working on a new slogan to attract more tourists. "Detroit! Come to harvest our many historical buildings for artifacts and high dollar scrap. Really! There's still lots left! Enjoy a baseball game and a coney after wards." |
Aiw Member Username: Aiw
Post Number: 6331 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:23 pm: | |
Pics? |
Leoqueen Member Username: Leoqueen
Post Number: 1609 Registered: 07-2004
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:24 pm: | |
I am totally upset about this |
Maddog Member Username: Maddog
Post Number: 10 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:37 pm: | |
Focusonthed: I dont care if it was a joke or not its not something to even joke about, you go out there everyday and put your life on the line fighting arson fires everyday and see if you think its funny then.... |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1830 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:38 pm: | |
quote:Authorities think the fire was intentionally set by vagrants found in the building this morning, said Mattie Majors, Detroit Public Schools spokeswoman. Two suspects were arrested, while another is at large. Darlene Romero, manager of the Berwin Apartments, across the street from the school, said police arrested two male suspects before the fire first became visible. The two suspects appeared to have been scavenging the building and were throwing pipes and other materials out of a window -- almost striking a woman who was walking down the street, Romero said. “Shortly after they left," Romero said of the police arresting the suspects, "that’s when the fire started.” About the only positive out of this story is that they caught 2 of the guys responsible. |
Russix Member Username: Russix
Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:53 pm: | |
I okay, I'm going to take a big guess here as to what happened. If these guys were scraping, they may have been using some sort of cutting torch. It may have been left on when they moved their scrap and were arrested or in the process of cutting pipes they accidentally ignited something without knowing it. Arson damage from vagrants is more associated with fires started to provide heat, which is unlikely on hot summer day. |
Rhymeswithrawk Member Username: Rhymeswithrawk
Post Number: 826 Registered: 11-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 4:29 pm: | |
That's my thought as well, Russix. I drove by today around 2ish. The fire was out and the damage didn't look that bad from the outside. I snapped some pictures, but they're not that great. I've seen the photos here at work from when the fire was "raging" and even those don't look bad. Of course, the inside could be a totally different story. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 5475 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:00 pm: | |
Very ugly news. jjaba, Cass Tech. Class of 1959, Printing Dept. |
Magic_mushroom Member Username: Magic_mushroom
Post Number: 30 Registered: 12-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:11 pm: | |
The "vagrants" were probably hired by the city to set the fire. This will help better clear the way to demolition. |
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen
Post Number: 2400 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:14 pm: | |
What sad news just as Cass Tech is about to celebrate its Centennial in August!!! |
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie
Post Number: 1102 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:40 pm: | |
They might have also been burning insulation off copper wiring, to make it readily salable at the scrapyard. |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 1288 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 6:52 pm: | |
To tag along on RSA's point. The Galston Apt building at Michigan and Livernois suffered extensive fire damage last winter, but construction marched on. I drove by it today and it looks like nothing ever happened to it. 4 buildings, 90 units under development by Southwest Housing http://modeldmedia.com/develop mentnews/galston86.aspx (Message edited by E_hemingway on July 30, 2007) |
Grandpamike Member Username: Grandpamike
Post Number: 12 Registered: 04-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 7:03 pm: | |
Very, very sad. I taught in the Math Dept at Cass from 1965-1996. It was sickening to see the smoke and flames coming from the old building. |
Gibran Member Username: Gibran
Post Number: 787 Registered: 02-2007
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 7:33 pm: | |
very sad...altough Rivals in the seventies...we had respect for the school.... |
7051 Member Username: 7051
Post Number: 37 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 11:23 pm: | |
The fire damaged 1% of the interior structure. Fire started on the 1st floor and extended to the 5th, 6th and 7th through a void space (mechanical chase) located behind a wall adjacent to the 1st floor and the subsequent fire floors. 98% of what was burning on the interior was contents(science lab cabinets, drafting room cabinets, etc.) |
Psip Member Username: Psip
Post Number: 1984 Registered: 04-2005
| Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 11:37 pm: | |
Thats what I figured 7051, that the fire went up a pipe chase. The dummies were probably trying to burn off insulation from the wires. Didn't think anyone would notice smoke coming from Cass Tech. |
Dougw Member Username: Dougw
Post Number: 1831 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 12:12 am: | |
That's good to hear, 7051. |
Danny Member Username: Danny
Post Number: 6300 Registered: 02-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 12:18 am: | |
Once the po'folks get inside the old Cass Tech they burn it down. |
Ffdfd Member Username: Ffdfd
Post Number: 120 Registered: 09-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 1:29 pm: | |
I can only imagine the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth this editorial in today's Freep will elicit from DY's usual band of self-appointed urban planning experts. http://tinyurl.com/2dtwz8
quote:Empty buildings are just opportunities for trouble, as Monday's fire shows. Tearing them down, rather than hoping against reality for their rebirth, is the smartest thing for Detroit to do. |
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba
Post Number: 5479 Registered: 11-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 1:55 pm: | |
As Ernie Harwell would say, JUST ANOTHER BUILDING STANDING BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. jjaba, Cass Alum, 1959 Printing Dept. waiting for the Grand River electric bus to carry me home. |