Fire consumes Wright’s Furniture’s warehouse and Duffy Ambulance Service Saturday morning/Photo courtesy of Jessica Riley via Facebook.com/989wjez

By A.J. Harris

Pontiac’s fire chief says two downtown buildings are a total loss from Saturday’s fire, but it could have been much worse.
The State Fire Marshall’s office has been called to lead an investigation into what caused the blaze that started at Wright’s Furniture warehouse, which is in back of the main furniture store on East Madison Street.
Pontiac Fire Chief Jacob Campbell says radiant heat from the warehouse spread north to Duffy Ambulance Service on East Howard Street.
Duffy’s living quarters and garage space are a total loss, as is Wright’s warehouse.
Campbell says firefighters were able to save the main furniture store and the offices of the Pontiac Daily Leader, the local newspaper.
In a statement, Duffy Ambulance Service says it has moved to a temporary location at Central Truck and Ag on Industrial Court in Pontiac, which will be its home until new headquarters are built.
The rescue service has returned to full operation for all emergency services.
Wright’s Furniture plans to reopen in a few days.
Campbell reports 19 area fire departments were called to assist the Pontiac Fire Department on Saturday.
There were no injuries even as firefighters had to deal with exploding transformers and a collapsing warehouse.
A dollar estimate of the damage is not yet available.