STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – A fire ripped through Buff Whelan Chevrolet dealership Tuesday night along Van Dyke in Sterling Heights.
The fire began around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the service area of the dealership when a janitor was cleaning the floor and a machine he was using sparked the flames. The fire spread quickly. Up to 30 vehicles were destroyed by the fire. No injuries were reported.
"Cars are made of all plastic and foam nowadays. So putting out a car fire in the middle of the roadway now is even challenging because they just keep burning," said Martin. "We've got 20 or more cars, some of them still burning in the heart of the building."
The damage is so extensive that the entire service center at Buff Whelan Chevrolet likely will have to be torn down.
“We can’t thank enough all of the firefighters and first responders who tirelessly worked throughout the night,” said Kerry Whelan, Owner of Buff Whelan Chevrolet, in a statement released Wednesday morning. "We don’t know what started the fire, and won’t have any information until the investigation is complete. However, the fire was contained in the Service Department and thankfully no one was hurt. Our new and used car departments are still open and will carry on with 'business as usual.' We have all the vehicle inventory anyone needs. We would also like to thank our remarkable employees for their commitment and dedication, as well as the community for the outpouring of concern and support."
READ MORE: Buff Whelan Chevrolet dealership fire: 30 vehicles burned, service center destroyed
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