Discuss Detroit » Archives - July 2007 » Fire at Historic Cass Tech « Previous Next »
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Detourdetroit
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Username: Detourdetroit

Post Number: 327
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:28 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does anyone know about this?
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Scs100
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Username: Scs100

Post Number: 1283
Registered: 12-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:30 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

WWJ reported that the building had caught fire, but that's all I know.
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Higgs1634
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Username: Higgs1634

Post Number: 142
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

well, that sort of focus the discussion on what should be done with it.
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Woodward
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Username: Woodward

Post Number: 21
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i suggest putting it out.
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Focusonthed
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Username: Focusonthed

Post Number: 1190
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Have an irritating empty building near you? Burn it down! It's the Detroit way.
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56packman
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Username: 56packman

Post Number: 1577
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 1:56 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The process has begun
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Higgs1634
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Username: Higgs1634

Post Number: 143
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

care to take bets on how long the hulking burnt out wreckage will remain standing?
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Maddog
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Username: Maddog

Post Number: 9
Registered: 04-2007
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:04 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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)
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Rhymeswithrawk
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Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 823
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:08 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Gravitymachine
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Username: Gravitymachine

Post Number: 1751
Registered: 05-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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?
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Detourdetroit
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Username: Detourdetroit

Post Number: 328
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:15 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Thanks RWR. That's the most useful post so far...
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Psip
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Username: Psip

Post Number: 1983
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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
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Focusonthed
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Username: Focusonthed

Post Number: 1191
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Focusonthed
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Username: Focusonthed

Post Number: 1192
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:45 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Barnesfoto
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Username: Barnesfoto

Post Number: 3852
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:48 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

depressing news.
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Exmotowner
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Username: Exmotowner

Post Number: 374
Registered: 06-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 2:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No question about what to do with that building now.
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Russix
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Username: Russix

Post Number: 19
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:12 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Isn't this building constructed out of reinforced concrete, brick, steel, and asphestus?
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Andylinn
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Username: Andylinn

Post Number: 476
Registered: 04-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

there is still a question... can anyone say: midmed lofts or globe trading company?
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Rsa
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Username: Rsa

Post Number: 1188
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:16 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Cambrian
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Username: Cambrian

Post Number: 1380
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:19 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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."
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Aiw
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Username: Aiw

Post Number: 6331
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Pics?
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Leoqueen
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Username: Leoqueen

Post Number: 1609
Registered: 07-2004
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I am totally upset about this
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Maddog
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Username: Maddog

Post Number: 10
Registered: 04-2007
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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....
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Dougw
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Username: Dougw

Post Number: 1830
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:38 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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. :-(
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Russix
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Username: Russix

Post Number: 21
Registered: 11-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 3:53 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Rhymeswithrawk
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Username: Rhymeswithrawk

Post Number: 826
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 4:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 5475
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:00 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Very ugly news.

jjaba, Cass Tech. Class of 1959, Printing Dept.
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Magic_mushroom
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Username: Magic_mushroom

Post Number: 30
Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:11 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

The "vagrants" were probably hired by the city to set the fire. This will help better clear the way to demolition.
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Kathleen
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Username: Kathleen

Post Number: 2400
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:14 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What sad news just as Cass Tech is about to celebrate its Centennial in August!!!
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Burnsie
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Username: Burnsie

Post Number: 1102
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 5:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

They might have also been burning insulation off copper wiring, to make it readily salable at the scrapyard.
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E_hemingway
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Username: E_hemingway

Post Number: 1288
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 6:52 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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)
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Grandpamike
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Username: Grandpamike

Post Number: 12
Registered: 04-2007
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 7:03 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Gibran
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Username: Gibran

Post Number: 787
Registered: 02-2007
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 7:33 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

very sad...altough Rivals in the seventies...we had respect for the school....
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7051
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Username: 7051

Post Number: 37
Registered: 02-2006
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 11:23 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.)
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Psip
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Username: Psip

Post Number: 1984
Registered: 04-2005
Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 11:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.
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Dougw
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Username: Dougw

Post Number: 1831
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 12:12 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That's good to hear, 7051.
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Danny
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Username: Danny

Post Number: 6300
Registered: 02-2004
Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 12:18 am:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Once the po'folks get inside the old Cass Tech they burn it down.
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Ffdfd
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Username: Ffdfd

Post Number: 120
Registered: 09-2006
Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 1:29 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.

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Jjaba
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Username: Jjaba

Post Number: 5479
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2007 - 1:55 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

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.

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