555 Building Fire Caused by Welder: Fire Investigators

(Originally posted Dec. 23, 2016) BIRMINGHAM, MI — A fire in the 555 building in downtown Birmingham that destroyed two apartments was caused by a welder mishap, a fire official said.

"They had two welders working on the exterior of the 14th floor, and at some point a fire broke out," Birmingham Fire Chief John Connaughton told the Detroit Free Press. "One of them attempted to use a fire extinguisher, but the smoke got so bad they couldn't see each other. So they came down."

The units that were destroyed were on the 14th and 15th floors, and the blaze appears to have traveled between the two floors through a heating vent. No one was injured.

See also:

• Fire Rips Through The 555 Building

The 555 Building is the tallest in Birmingham. It was built in the early 1970s. An extensive remodeling project is underway.

» For the complete story, go to the Detroit Free Press.

Photo via Shutterstock