DELTA TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Investigators have confirmed that a fire inside the Lansing Board of Water and Light's Erickson power plant in Delta Township started in the area where the coal enters the facility.
Firefighters responded to a report of a fire in a coal hopper in the building on 3725 S. Canal Road at approximately 10:54 p.m. on Thursday, July 12.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the coal hopper, said Mike Roberts, a fire inspector with the Delta Township Fire Department.
He added that no one was injured.
The fire was fully contained in about two hours.
"Coal has a tendency to be able to spontaneously combust. Because of what it is especially with any kind of moisture, and so that's very possible. But right now there is no cause in origin that's been determined yet," Roberts told Fox 47 Friday morning.
Crews shut down the Erickson plant immediately after the fire was reported as a precaution.
They are still looking for an official cause but believe that it was the coal spontaneously combusting.
Delta Township, Lansing Township, Windsor Township, Lansing, Benton and Grand Ledge fire departments all responded to the scene.
Breina Pugh, BWL spokesperson told Fox 47 that the plant is offline but is expected to be open on Monday.
They added that no customers were affected, and that no one lost power at any time.
The BWL broke ground on the $500 million plan for the new Delta Energy Park power plant that will replace the utility's coal-powered plants, including the Erickson plant.
The Erickson power station is scheduled to shut down in 2025.
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