Old Sanders factory still smoldering nearly 2 weeks after fire - KMSP-TV

It went up in flames nearly two weeks ago and is still smoldering. People who work and live around the old Sanders factory in Highland Park want to know why the fire is still not out and how long it will burn.

The Highland Park Fire Department is out daily to quell the hot spots, but there is still smoke. We asked the chief why is it taking so long put out.

"It's not a staffing issue," he said.

It's not staffing, it's safety. Look closely past the smoke and the water and you'll see huge slabs of cement hanging in the balance. It's an accident waiting to happen.

"It had a concrete roof, so it collapsed down on top of it with the second floor ... all concrete," said Chief Derek Hillman. "We can't get in there because it's too dangerous and too hazardous for our guys."

In between the two and a half foot slabs of concrete is a dangerous situation to get firefighters inside. In between there is also a lot of insulation that continues to burn nearly two weeks after the initial fire.

Fox 2 has learned the company that owns the building isn't insured, and that is why there's a holdup.

We tried to get in touch with the company that sources said owns the land. Ken Daniels is the resident agent with the firm Daniels Karim Investments, LLC out of Farmington Hills. No insurance means no one is coming to clean up anytime soon. It's an eyesore.

"We're trying to do the best we can for this community, and we're going to keep on monitoring this and getting this taken care of as soon as possible," Hillman said.

We looked up the company. It is not listed anywhere. There is just an old office suite address in Farmington Hills and no phone number.

The City of Highland Park is asking the feds to step in to help speed things up. The DEQ and EPA may be able to put more pressure on Daniels Karim Investments to clean up.

Experts say the air quality has not been compromised.