(WXYZ) — Detroit fire crews are on the scene of a massive fire at the historic Maccabees Building on the campus of Wayne State University on Wednesday afternoon.
While the investigation is ongoing, Wayne State officials say an air handling unit outside on the 11th floor ignited in an electrical fire. No one was injured. Officials say the fire happened on a faculty floor.
Officials say the building mostly suffered water damage, but the electrical damage has not yet been assessed. They say they will walk through the building to determine the full extent of any damage.
The building will remain closed while the damage survey is underway. Once that is complete, undamaged parts of the building will be reopened.
Video showed a massive plume of smoke coming from the building, located along Woodward Ave. just north of Warren, as well as flames coming out of windows.
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Wayne State University sent out an alert that said the building had been evacuated because of the fire.
As of 1:58 p.m., WSU reported the fire in the building was out and contained to the 11th floor. According to the university, there are no known injuries at this time. Crews arrived at the scene within two minutes of the call coming in.
Woodward is currently closed at Warren, and people are being asked to avoid the area.
According to Historic Detroit, the 14-story building was designed by Albert Kahn and is also the former home of WXYZ, which started broadcasting from the building in 1948.
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Wayne State University purchased the building in 2002, and in an update in 2025, said that as part of campus enhancement, academic programs would be moved from the building and will instead house administrative departments.
Stay with WXYZ.com and 7 News Detroit for updates to this breaking story.
