Photos: A closer look at Fisher Body Plant fire and why firefighter jumped

It was the second fire at the hulking, abandoned Fisher Body Plant 21 in just a few hours.

Detroit firefighters were called to the plant at 7:32 a.m. as motorists from nearby I-75 and I-94 saw plumes of black smoke billowing from the long-vacant building. Arriving firefighters found flames in the second and third floor.

The dispatcher advised firefighters not to enter the building because of its deteriorating condition. Two firefighters attacked the blaze from the bucket of a ladder truck instead. That’s when the external elevator shaft collapsed dangerously close to the firefighters.

Panicked, one of the firefighters jumped about 25 feet, puncturing a lung and breaking ribs. He was barely conscious and had trouble breathing. But firefighters stabilized him while they waited about 12 minutes for an ambulance to arrive.

The other firefighter wasn’t injured because he stayed in the bucket. The elevator shaft never hit the truck or ladder, city officials said.

Arson investigators were on the scene Wednesday.

Click here for more on the Fisher Body Plant 21.

These photos show the rear of Fisher Body Plant 21 and the external elevator shaft.

  abandoned building, fire, Firefighters, Fisher Body Plant, injury

Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

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