Charges Sought In Fire That Gutted Ferndale Office

FERNDALE, MI — Charges are being sought against a 27-year-old Warren man in connection with a Hilton Road fire that destroyed an office building on Oct. 2. Ferndale Police Sgt. Baron Brown didn’t specify the charges, but said the case has been submitted to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

The fire was caused by butane vapors from the production of hash oil, Ferndale Fire Marshal Brian Batten said earlier this month. It took firefighters from five agencies to extinguish the flames at the office building south of 10 Mile Road.

“The building itself is a total loss,” Batten said. “Firewalls protected two adjacent buildings. One had some smoke damage and the other some water damage.”

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A business operated by the Warren man and a partner was issued a certificate of occupancy for the Hilton Road building in July, Batten said. It was a 1,260-square foot building.

The 27-year-old suffered extensive burns and is still hospitalized at Detroit Receiving Hospital in stable condition, Brown said.

File photo