CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A massive fire and series of explosions Monday night in Clinton Township has a lasting impact on neighboring businesses.
IDC Industries, a gearbox manufacturing facility, is located across the street from the building that caught fire.
For hours, projectiles from the explosion rained onto their property, puncturing 75 holes into their roof.
“If it was just a fire, that would have been fine, but with all these explosions and all the explosive materials that were stored on hand, that affects us, that affects everybody,” IDC Industries General Manager Chris Mansur said.
The holes in the roof have been patched but will need a more permanent fix.
In the meantime, the company is trying to find a way to restore power after the explosion caught their utility pole on fire.
“For two days we were trying to get DTE to come out here and restore our power and now we’re operating off a generator, which is costing $30,000 plus a month for us to run,” Mansur said.
DTE told the company the fire melted the wires, which IDC Industries must replace.
Mansur said the insurance company is baffled by the situation and is trying to determine what’s covered under its policy.
Clinton Township officials have said the retail vape shop where the fire started was not permitted to store the hazardous materials that caused the explosions.
“Now all of these businesses around here are suffering because of one person’s negligence,” Mansur said.
--> Investigation underway into Clinton Township fatal fire, explosions