ESCANABA, MI— Officials are investigating the cause of a major fire in Escanaba.
The Department of Public Safety was dispatched Thursday around 12:13 p.m. to Race Ramps on 23rd Avenue North. Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy fire and smoke throughout the structure.
Due to the size of the building and nature of the materials stored inside, the incident was quickly upgraded. Several area fire departments were brought in to assist.
Crews worked for several hours to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to many nearby buildings. The structure is considered a total loss. Escanaba school buses, which were parked behind Race Ramps, were damaged.
No injuries were reported and all workers were safely evacuated from the building.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Assisting in the incident were fire departments from Escanaba Township, Ford River Township, Bark River Township, and Gladstone, Rampart EMS, DTE, Gene’s Towing, DNR fire and conservation officers, the Delta County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, the Red Cross, the Escanaba Public Schools Transportation Department, the National Weather Service, the Delta County Emergency Manager, Escanaba City Electric, Water, and Public Works departments, and the Delta County Central Dispatch Center.
