Large apartment building in Suburban Detroit burns. Video & pictures from Highland Park.

View pictures from Dennis Walus of the fire at Highland Towers

The three videos on this page show the progression of the fire last night in Highland Park, Michigan that destroyed a vacant, historic apartment building. Photographer Dennis Walus was on the scene and shot the still pictures you see on this page. Here’s his account of the fire:

On Friday September 3rd 2010, The Highland Park Fire Department responded to a reported building fire at Woodward and Mclean. Upon arrival of HPFD units they reported a working fire on the 3rd floor of a vacant apartment building. Crews attempted to make an interior attack, but due to fire/building conditions and low manpower they were unable to make progress on the fire and were forced to evacuate the building and go defensive. Mutual aid was requested from the Hamtramck Fire Department for there tower and Berkley Public Safety responded with there quint. Defensive operations were started on the story 350 X 150 building. Additional mutual aid was then requested from the Detroit Fire Department. DFD responded with a full box alarm with an additional 2 engines & 2 Trucks. Crew fought this fire in defensive mode using 5 water towers. companies operated at this scene overnight to bring this fire under control.

From WXYZ-TV:

Fire fighters from Berkley, Hamtramck and Detroit all assisted in the efforts to douse the flames.

We’re told it might take until the end of the weekend to extinguish all of the hot spots.

While the official cause has not yet been determined Highland Park’s mayor says he believes the source of ignition is suspicious. He believes the blaze was set in at least three places across the sprawling building. It’s another in a string of suspected arsons that have recently plagued the city.

The Highland Towers have been vacant for several years, but when they were built 90 years ago the apartments were considered luxury living.

Also on STATter911 …

• Detroit’s new commissioner sets policy on fires in vacants. Austin wants clear sign someone is inside before entering. – June 14, 2011
• Helmet-cam video: Hartly, Delaware house fire. – January 6, 2011
• Interim Detroit Fire Commissioner Fred Wheeler finally meets with reporter Charlie LeDuff. Sort of. – May 12, 2011
• UPDATE: Detroit burning. Almost 100 fires. Most blamed on downed wires from high winds. Watch videos & listen live. Union calls closed companies ‘a major embarrassment’. – September 7, 2010