Detroit Firefighters Battle Two Alarm Blaze at Vacant Apartment Building

DETROIT (WJBK) - Detroit firefighters were on the scene of a massive apartment fire that stretched an entire neighborhood block Friday night.

Smoke could be seen for miles coming from Southfield one block north of Joy. In total, a dozen engines and trucks were needed to handle the situation, which started just before 7:00 p.m.

Neighbors told FOX 2 the vacant building has been targeted by people stripping copper and anything else they can grab.

Firefighters said it is possible someone a few hours prior using a blowtorch to remove things inside could be responsible or it could simply be arson.

When crews first arrived, the neighborhood fire hydrant was inoperable. Fortunately, they were able to find another one close by and firefighters hosed down the flames from ladder trucks rather than risk injury going inside.

Also fortunate, there was a fire station just a block away and nobody was injured.

It will now be up to arson investigators to figure out exactly what happened. However, neighbors say they don't even need to wait that long. They already know it had something to do with people that have been stripping the property.