Michigan Oil Company Fire Blamed On Electrical Problem

LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- An electrical problem in a heating unit caused a massive blaze at an oil company that destroyed two of the firm's buildings and heavily damaged a third, fire officials said.

But the damage could have been much worse. The flames came within inches of two of Spartan Oil Corp.'s 27 on-site oil holding tanks, company president Bruce Maguire III told the Lansing State Journal for a Thursday story.

Fire officials said the electrical problem stemmed from a heating unit covering an oil tote. But since it was burned so badly, they are unable to determine whether it was a malfunction in the unit itself or with the outlet it was plugged in to.

Spartan's 70 local employees reported to work as usual Wednesday, Maguire said, and the company was operating at close to 90 percent capacity.

Spartan officials planed to meet Thursday to hash out a rebuilding plan and take stock of the situation.

Information from: Lansing State Journal

Related:

• Fire Damages Mich. Oil Facility