TROY, Mich. — Authorities in Troy are investigating the cause of a disastrous fire at a Belle Tire outlet in Troy.
Police officers on patrol saw flames coming from the building late on the evening of Feb. 4, after the store had closed for the night. Firefighters at the scene found the blaze already had breached the roof and the second story where tires were stored.
The thick, black smoke from the tires and the high heat forced firefighters to evacuate the building and concentrate on fighting the fire from outside, according to news reports. The building was declared a total loss. There were no injuries.
Troy Fire Marshal Chuck Riesterer said there was no dollar estimate for the damage. Depending on various circumstances, Mr. Riesterer said, it could take "anywhere from a week to a year" to determine the cause of the fire.
Officials of Belle Tire could not be reached for comment.
The destroyed store is one of two Belle Tire has in Troy, a city of 80,000-plus inhabitants about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit.
Based in Allen Park, Mich., Belle Tire is one of the largest tire dealership chains in the U.S., with 120 stores in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.