Massive Industrial Fire Kills 19-Year-Old Bystander in Clinton Township, Injures One Firefighter

Clinton Township, Michigan United States of America
19-year-old male bystander was killed as he walked down the street when he was hit in the head with a projectile that shot out from the fire amid continuous explosions. The teen died around 4 am, according to Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan.
explosion caused debris to fly into the air and injured one firefighter who sustained minor injuries after a piece of debris went through his windshield while driving on 15 Mile Road near a service station
Massive industrial fire
Select Distributors in Clinton Township
vaping materials and combustible materials such as nitrous oxide tanks
Massive Industrial Fire Kills 19-Year-Old Bystander in Clinton Township, Injures One Firefighter

On March 5, 2024, a massive industrial fire broke out at Select Distributors in Clinton Township. The building was used to store vaping materials and combustible materials such as nitrous oxide tanks. The explosion caused debris to fly into the air and injured one firefighter who sustained minor injuries after a piece of debris went through his windshield while driving on 15 Mile Road near a service station. A 19-year-old male bystander was killed as he walked down the street when he was hit in the head with a projectile that shot out from the fire amid continuous explosions. The teen died around 4 am, according to Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan.


Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image

Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if the explosion caused any other injuries or damage beyond what has been reported.
  • The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Sources

82%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Clinton Township fire: Teen killed by flying canister amid Select Distributors explosions

Detroit Free Press Tuesday, 05 March 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • A 19-year-old male bystander died early Tuesday morning as a result of a massive, multi-alarm fire at Select Distributors in Clinton Township.
    • The teen was on foot at a car wash near a service station on 15 Mile Road when he was hit in the head by a projectile, possibly a tank, that shot out of the fire amid continuous explosions. He died around 4 am.
    • Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan reported that the teen was at least a quarter mile away from the actual building.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan says that the teen was at least a quarter mile away from the actual building. This statement implies that he has expert knowledge on this matter and his opinion should be taken as fact without any evidence presented to support it.
    • The teen was at least a quarter mile away from the actual building.
  • Bias (85%)
    The article contains several examples of bias. Firstly, the author uses language that dehumanizes the teenage victim by referring to him as a 'bystander' and saying he was hit in the head with a projectile. This implies that his death is not significant or worthy of sympathy, which is biased towards those who were directly involved in the incident. Secondly, there are several instances where quotes from authorities are used without any context or explanation as to why they were chosen for inclusion in the article. For example, Clinton Township Fire Chief Tim Duncan's statement that 'the teen was at least a quarter mile away from the actual building' is not explained and could be interpreted as downplaying the severity of the incident. Thirdly, there are several instances where quotes from authorities use language that dehumanizes those involved in the incident. For example, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel refers to 'the loss of a life of a 19-year-old out in the street' which implies that his death is not significant or worthy of sympathy. Finally, there are several instances where quotes from authorities use language that dehumanizes those involved in the incident. For example, Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel refers to 'the loss of a life of a 19-year-old out in the street' which implies that his death is not significant or worthy of sympathy.
    • A piece of debris came through the windshield and clipped the firefighter on the side of the face, said Paul Brouwer, Clinton Township emergency management coordinator.
      • Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel referred to 'the loss of a life of a 19-year-old out in the street' which implies that his death is not significant or worthy of sympathy.
        • The teen was on foot at a car wash near a service station on 15 Mile Road when he was hit in the head by a projectile, possibly a tank, that shot out of the fire amid continuous explosions. He said the teen was "at least a quarter mile away from the actual building."
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          The article reports on a fire in Clinton Township that killed a teenager. The article mentions Select Distributors as the source of an explosion and also mentions the company's CEO Mark Hackel. It is not clear if there are any financial ties between Select Distributors and Macomb County, but it is possible that they have a professional affiliation or personal relationship with each other.
          • The article reports on an explosion at Select Distributors in Clinton Township which killed the teenager.
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          76%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          19-year-old who was quarter mile away from fiery explosion killed by flying canister: Michigan officials

          ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Tuesday, 05 March 2024 19:01
          • Unique Points
            • 19-year-old killed by flying canister from explosion
            • explosion caused debris to fly into the air, injuring one firefighter and damaging buildings up to a mile away
            • fire still smoldering three days after explosion occurred
            • Clinton Fire Department received semi-load of butane containers recently, which caught fire Monday night
          • Accuracy
            No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
          • Deception (50%)
            The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the headline claims that a 19-year-old was killed by flying debris from an explosion but does not mention anything about them being struck by a canister. This creates confusion and implies that they were hit directly by the explosion when it's unclear if this is true or not. Secondly, the article mentions over half of the semi-load of butane containers was still at the facility as of Monday night, which could imply that there are more explosions to come. However, no such information is provided in any other part of the article and it's unclear if this statement is accurate or not. Thirdly, while firefighters were injured by debris from the explosion, they did not mention anything about being hit directly by flying canisters like what killed the 19-year-old. This creates a false impression that firefighters are at risk of getting struck by flying debris when it's unclear if this is true or not.
            • The headline claims that a 19-year-old was killed by flying debris from an explosion but does not mention anything about them being struck by a canister. This creates confusion and implies that they were hit directly by the explosion when it's unclear if this is true or not.
            • The article mentions over half of the semi-load of butane containers was still at the facility as of Monday night, which could imply that there are more explosions to come. However, no such information is provided in any other part of the article and it's unclear if this statement is accurate or not.
            • While firefighters were injured by debris from the explosion, they did not mention anything about being hit directly by flying canisters like what killed the 19-year-old. This creates a false impression that firefighters are at risk of getting struck by flying debris when it's unclear if this is true or not.
          • Fallacies (85%)
            The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that the Clinton Fire Department described the explosion as a 'tremendous amount of fire'. This statement implies that because the fire department said it was tremendous, it must be true without providing any evidence or context for their assessment. Additionally, there are multiple instances where statements from sources other than ABC News are quoted verbatim without being attributed to them. For example, quotes from Clinton Fire Chief Tim Duncan and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel are presented as if they were directly spoken by the authors of the article rather than being reported on their positions. This violates rule 3 which states that only statements made by ABC News should be considered in analyzing fallacies.
            • The firefighter who was hurt from the blast when a piece of debris went through his windshield and clipped him on the side of his face.
          • Bias (85%)
            The article contains a statement that the explosion was caused by butane containers. This is not true as there were no butane containers involved in the blast according to fire officials.
            • ]In my 25 years ... this, by far, was the biggest one that I've ever seen[
              • The vape company had recently received a semi-load of butane containers,
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                ABC News has a conflict of interest on the topic of vaping distributing company as they are owned by a parent company that produces and sells e-cigarettes.
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication

                74%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                Massive Michigan industrial fire sparks hundreds of explosions, sending debris flying and killing 1

                Fox News Media Michael Dorgan Tuesday, 05 March 2024 19:08
                • Unique Points
                  • The fire broke out at around 8:40 p.m. at a facility in Clinton Township, Michigan.
                  • Select Distributors is the company that owns the facility and reportedly houses nitrous oxide tanks as well as novelty items and general merchandise.
                  • Hundreds of explosions from an industrial building fire rocked a Detroit suburb Monday night, sending debris flying far into the air and killing one person.
                  • The 19-year-old was killed after being struck by a projectile from the explosion according to WXYZ.
                  • There were hundreds of small explosions inside the building as canisters were exploding and shooting out of it.
                  • One of those canisters flew through the windshield of a fire truck and hit a firefighter.
                  • The Clinton Township Police Department requested assistance from local police, fire agencies, and ATF due to combustible materials being stored in the business.
                  • Police established a perimeter of security and evacuated area residents after first responders arrived on the scene.
                  • Air quality concerns were raised as debris was flying for about a mile around the facility.
                  • The fire had been contained by 11 p.m., but air quality testing is still ongoing to determine if there are any hazardous materials present in the smoke that may have affected nearby residents.
                • Accuracy
                  No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                • Deception (50%)
                  The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that there were hundreds of explosions from an industrial building fire rocked a Detroit suburb Monday night. However, the video footage shows only one explosion and multiple small bursts of flames within the blaze that looked like explosions. Secondly, it claims that debris was flying for about a mile but no evidence is provided to support this claim. Thirdly, it states that there were hundreds of canisters exploding and shooting out of the building which contradicts what was seen in the video footage where only one explosion occurred. Fourthly, it mentions an Alabama couple rescuing drivers from fiery cars while returning home from a trip to Florida but this is not related to the industrial fire incident.
                  • The article claims that there were hundreds of explosions but only one was seen in the video footage.
                  • The article states that debris was flying for about a mile but no evidence is provided to support this claim.
                  • The article mentions an Alabama couple rescuing drivers from fiery cars while returning home from a trip to Florida which is not related to the industrial fire incident.
                • Fallacies (85%)
                  The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the sources of information without providing any context or analysis of their credibility. Additionally, there are examples of inflammatory rhetoric used in quotes from witnesses and officials that could be seen as sensationalizing the event.
                  • The fire broke out at around 8:40 p.m. at a facility at 19100 15 Mile Road belonging to Select Distributors, a company that reportedly houses nitrous oxide tanks as well as novelty items and general merchandise.
                  • WXYZ reports that there were hundreds of small explosions inside the building as canisters were exploding and shooting out of the building. One of those canisters flew through the windshield of a fire truck and hit a firefighter.
                • Bias (80%)
                  The article contains several examples of bias. Firstly, the author uses language that dehumanizes the victim by referring to him as a 'projectile' rather than acknowledging his death. Secondly, there is an example of religious bias in the use of phrases such as 'nitrous oxide tanks', which may be associated with certain beliefs or practices. Thirdly, there are several instances where quotes from sources are used without context or explanation, making it difficult to determine their reliability and potential biases. Finally, the article contains a statement that is not supported by evidence: 'It was just continuous explosions'. This suggests a lack of objectivity in reporting.
                  • 'It was just continuous explosions'
                    • Police said that when first responders arrived on the scene, they witnessed exploding materials flying in all directions from the building with some landing about a mile away
                      • Select Distributors reportedly houses nitrous oxide tanks as well as novelty items and general merchandise
                        • The 19-year-old was killed after being struck by a projectile from the explosion
                        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                          None Found At Time Of Publication
                        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                          The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of industrial fires as they are reporting for Select Distributors which is involved in the industry.

                          85%

                          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                          19-year-old killed, firefighter injured in massive Clinton Township industrial fire

                          CBS News Site: https://www.cbsnews.com/articles/about-us/ DeJanay Booth-Singleton, Tuesday, 05 March 2024 19:10
                          • Unique Points
                            • Fire caused by explosion of butane canisters
                            • Building was a warehouse for Select Distributors, which supplies vaping materials
                            • Hundreds to thousands of canisters exploded and became projectiles during fire
                            • Canisters that were ejected from building might still contain a form of gas and should not be handled
                          • Accuracy
                            • 19-year-old killed in massive Clinton Township industrial fire
                            • Firefighter injured in massive Clinton Township industrial fire
                            • Hundreds to thousands of canisters exploded and became projectiles during the fire
                          • Deception (100%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication
                          • Fallacies (85%)
                            The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the Clinton Township Fire Chief and other officials without providing any evidence or context for their statements. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the fire as a 'massive industrial fire that sent debris flying in the air' which could be seen as sensationalist. The article also contains an example of dichotomous depiction by stating that residents were urged to stay inside and out of the vicinity, implying two opposite actions are necessary.
                            • The Clinton Township Fire Chief said a 19-year-old man died from injuries he sustained after being hit in the head by a piece of shrapnel.
                            • A firefighter was taken to a hospital with minor injuries after a piece of debris went through a windshield and clipped the side of his face.
                            • The building was under control early Tuesday, but it will be some time before the cause is determined.
                          • Bias (85%)
                            The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the victims of the fire by referring to them as a 'total loss'. Additionally, there is an example of ideological bias in the use of terms such as 'vaping materials supplier' which implies that vaping products are inherently dangerous.
                            • Residents are asked to call 586-469-5502 if they see debris, canisters or other objects that are concerning.
                              • The business operated as a novelty supply company known to stock combustible materials.
                                • The vacant building had large butane and nitrous oxide tanks stored inside that might have been the source of the blaze.
                                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                                  The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Clinton Township industrial fire as they are reporting for CBS News which is owned by ATF. The article also mentions Select Distributors and butane canisters explosion which could be related to their business interests.