New Evidence Points To Possible Oakland Hills Fire Cause: Report

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI — Although it will take a while for investigators to determine the cause of the Feb. 17 fire at the Oakland Hills Country Club, officials recovered propane tanks, a torch and a heater at the scene, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press.

Before firefighters found the blaze in the attic above the Country Club's clubhouse, they found signs of a fire in the building's rear walls, which were under construction, near where workers were using a propane torch and heater, according to the report, citing Bloomfield Township Fire Marshal Peter Vlahos.

If the fire started between the building's walls, that would explain why the building's sprinkler system struggled to put out the flames before the blaze spread across the building, the second largest wooden-framed building in Michigan, only behind the Mackinac Island Grand Hotel.

Bloomfield Township Fire Chief John LeRoy declined to comment on the evidence collected by officials at the scene, since the fire is still under investigation.

Firefighters spent virtually the entire day battling the blaze amid a winter storm. The fire destroyed much of the iconic Oakland Hills Country Club. The building suffered extensive damage to its center, with one fire official describing it as a "total loss." However, fire officials were able to save some memorabilia from the historic clubhouse.

Despite the damage, President Rick Palmer said the private golf club will rebuild the structure's clubhouse, including its two-story back porch that was a replica of George Washington's Mount Vernon home. Palmer also said the club was looking into plans for what a temporary clubhouse would look like in 2022, 2023 and possibly 2024.

The clubhouse opened in 1916, and its storied history includes golf greats, such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Ben Hogan. It has hosted six U.S. Opens and was recently awarded the U.S. Women’s Open in 2031 and 2042.