Oakland Hills Fire Likely Started Accidentally From Torches

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MI — Officials believe the Oakland Hills Country Club fire started as maintenance workers were using propane torches on the building's east side, which faces the golf course, Oakland County officials said during a Thursday afternoon.

Officials revealed a surveillance video showing maintenance workers heating material on the building's walls. The workers were using the torches to install rubberized flashing, and the heat from the flame helps dry it in the cold weather, officials said.

Officials said they do not believe there was any intent by the workers in starting the fire, as the investigation into the fire continues.

The video showed the workers promptly responding to a possible fire with a water hose, before the video cuts to firefighters breaking open the building's wall to flames. Officials said it's unclear how long the workers waited to report the fire after noticing smoke from the building's wall.

It was one month ago when the massive blaze burned the Oakland Hills Country Club to the ground, taking a century worth of golf history with it. The building's clubhouse suffered extensive damage as firefighters spent most of the day battling the blaze. Officials estimated $80 million was lost.

However, officials at club do plan to rebuild the structure's clubhouse, but said it will take years. But the club was looking into plans for what a temporary clubhouse would look like in 2022, 2023 and possibly 2024.