JUST IN (10:09 a.m.) Lakewood Lanes still burning

All that remains of Lakewood Lanes in Waterford Township is rubble and debris several feet high.

Waterford firefighters are still battling a blaze that erupted last night and destroyed Lakewood Lanes, located on M-59 east of Elizabeth Lake Road.

According to Waterford Fire Captain John Lyman, there’s still fire beneath the rubble at the site, and bulldozers will be brought in this morning to help firefighters get at the remaining hot spots.

Firefighters were called to the scene between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24. They attempted an interior attack upon arrival, but determined there was a danger of collapse and quickly exited the building.

Lyman said the bowling alley’s roof and western wall both collapsed and the scene remains unsafe. Eastbound M-59 traffic is reduced to one lane between Elizabeth Lake Road and just west of Voorheis, after all lanes of M-59 in both directions along that span had been closed through much of last night.

One firefighter suffered a minor shoulder injury while fighting the blaze and has been released from an area hospital following treatment, according to Lyman. He said firefighters from West Bloomfield and Bloomfield townships assisted in the response last night, while Waterford Township police handled traffic control in the area.

Lyman said the bowling alley was unoccupied at the time the fire began. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

This is a developing story … we will post updates as new information becomes available.