AN EARLY-MORNING FIRE SATURDAY IN BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Michigan, destroyed a multi-million dollar, 23,000 sq. ft. mansion. The family of four was awakened shortly after 4 am and were able to escape without injury, but the house and all of its contents were lost.
WXYZ-TV has this video report on the fire:
The owner, Linden Nelson is a well-known entrepreneur in the Detroit area. His house was noted for its almost museum-like quality, built with rich interior stonework and furnished with top-value antiques. There were several millions of dollars worth of artwork alone in the house that are presumably lost as well.
“I’m devastated,” he told the Detroit News. “My family’s devastated. Yesterday was my 49th birthday. My wife and I are doing everything we can to deal with this. I can’t talk about it right now.” When asked how he thought the house caught fire, Nelson said “I have no idea.”
The Detroit News also noted that: Earlier this month, Nelson was arrested over the July 4 weekend in Aspen, according to the Aspen Daily News. The Daily News reported he got upset when his car was booted in a fire lane near a grocery store. Police arrived and arrested Nelson for failing to obey a lawful order and resisting arrest or interfering with an investigation after he got confrontational with officers, the paper reported. He was charged with disorderly conduct, according to The Daily News.
