Incident number: 3866-2019
Type of emergency: Commercial building fire
Incident date: 7/2/2019
Alarm time: 2:55 a.m.
Address/location: 133 E. Michigan Ave. – Battle Creek Masonic Center
Occupied? NO
Owner: Masonic Temple Finance Corp.
Probable cause (if known): Unknown
Structure type: Commercial building
Construction type: Brick building
Estimated property damage: Unknown
Estimated contents damage: Unknown
Location/extent of damage: Basement, first floor, and second floor southwest corner (extensive damage)
Hazardous materials involved: No
Specialized rescues: No
Vehicles involved, if any: No
Injuries: None
Fatalities: None
Other information: Battle Creek Fire Department was toned out to a possible structure fire at the Masonic Temple. A taxi driver noticed smoke coming out of a window air conditioner on the second floor. Upon arrival, we had smoke coming from that window air conditioner, and heat was showing inside the room from our thermal imaging camera. Rescue 3 and Engine 5 made entry through the side door on the west side, and discovered a lot of heat and smoke. They proceeded to the first-floor room and discovered it had burned, and had a large hole in the floor. Engine 5 proceeded to the basement room below, discovered fire, and quickly extinguished it. Crews then started to ventilate the smoke from the building, and perform overhaul, looking for more fire extension – very little was found. Crews were still at the scene as of 7 a.m. ventilating the building, and working with Fire Marshal Quincy Jones, who was called in to investigate. BCFD responded with 18 firefighters and two command officers.