Acme Partyworks building in Novi lost to fire

NOVI — The Acme Partyworks Rental Co. building at 41326 Vincenti Court was lost to what appears to be an accidental fire Nov. 2, according to Novi Assistant Fire Chief John Martin.

“This fire has been devastating to the business owner, their family, all of their staff and customers,” said Martin.

The company has been in business since 1992, according to its website, and rents items such as bounce houses, inflatables, mechanical bulls and water slides for parties and events.

The Novi Fire Department was called to the scene, in the area of Meadowbrook Road and Grand River Avenue, for a report of a structure fire at 8:01 p.m. Firefighters got there within five minutes of the call; however, the roof and walls of the building were not stable as a result of the fire. Because of this, firefighter crews were prohibited from entering the building and instead concentrated their hose streams from the exterior of the building, Martin said. He said the roof eventually collapsed inward, which caused two of the exterior walls partially to collapse.

“Fortunately, all fire personnel were at a safe distance from the structure,” Martin said.

Novi Fire Department crews were assisted at the scene by the Farmington Hills Fire Department. The city of Northville assisted by handling medical calls. Heavy equipment from the city of Novi’s Department of Public Works was used to move debris, allowing fire crews to have access to any remaining smoldering material, Martin said.

The exact origin and cause of the fire remains unknown. Fire investigators from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office are assisting the Novi fire marshal with the investigation. According to Martin, the fire started in the warehouse section of the business. No one was in the building at the time of the fire, and no injuries have been reported, Martin said.