Other / Not Specified, Other Business Ferndale, MI – Sprinkler system keeps fire from spreading at auction business December 24, 2014 viking210 A fire at a large commercial building is being investigated by the Ferndale Fire Department and the county’s arson squad, but may have been started by a careless smoker. The fire broke out early Monday afternoon at Assets Now Auction, 1450 Academy, south of Nine Mile Road near Wanda. “It’s looking like a careless smoker may have started the fire,” said Ferndale Fire Chief Kevin Sullivan, “but we won’t know until we finish analyzing the surveillance video from the business.” Fire broke out in the paper products area and firefighters were called to the building about 12:45 p.m. Sullivan said the building has a sprinkler system that helped stop the fire from spreading into a large blaze. Ferndale Fire Marshal Brian Batten said the building covers about 30,000 square feet. Fire officials estimate the fire caused about $20,000 in damage from smoke and water. “There was no structural damage to the building,” Batten said.
