A massive fire destroyed two large warehouse complexes and resulted in the deaths of three members of the Detroit Fire Department on March 12, 1987. The circumstances were particularly unusual, in the fact that the fatalities resulted from two separate incidents, in different buildings, almost three hours apart. The manner in which the fire conditions changed very rapidly, resulting in one fatality and several injuries, is also unusual and could easily have resulted in several additional firefighter deaths.

The Detroit Fire Department has determined that this fire resulted from an act of arson and a suspect has been charged with three counts of homicide. This report does not address the cause and origin aspects of the investigation. It is intended to describe the situation that was faced by the forces involved in fire suppression operations and the circumstances that resulted in the fatalities.

This report is for informational purposes only.

The fire scene was approximately two miles northwest of the downtown business area in a warehouse district one block from the Detroit Fire Department Training Academy. It involved two adjacent warehouse complexes, each constructed in several phases between approximately 1900 and 1920. The buildings in the north complex were abandoned, while the south complex was occupied by an operating paper products distributing company. The two complexes were separated by an entrance alley, approximately 20 feet wide that provided entry to a large yard area. This was the only access to the yard with the other sides blocked by buildings, railroad tracks, and retaining walls.