No one was injured early Thursday morning when billowing smoke and a fire broke out near a boiler in the Garden City Hospital Annex at 6701 Harrison.

While calls were coming into 9-1-1, Fire Chief Catherine Harman and Capt. Scott Marinkovich could see the smoke from the building about 8:18 a.m. "The guys could see orange through the windows of the cafeteria/gym area," Harman added.

At the time, a crew was removing the facility's old boiler and were using an acetylene torch to remove pipes. "They appeared to be following all proper procedures," Harman said.

As the investigation into the fire continues, Harman said it appears the heat from the torch cutting a pipe may have traveled through a cinder block wall near the boiler and heated materials, including rolled carpeting and padding, in the adjacent storage area. It could have also been attributed to a “hot” from the procedure itself, she added.

Meanwhile, Joe Morris of Garden City Hospital Security arrived at the building and was able to determine all Garden City Hospital employees were out of the building.  Approximately 20 employees were working in the facility at the time of the fire.  A member from the crew removing the boiler alerted employees after the pull station failed to activate.

"They were already attacking the fire," Harman said, describing what she saw when she arrived at the scene.

Marinkovich immediately contacted member departments of the Western Wayne County Fire Department Mutual Aid Association for additional help.

"He made a good tactical call," Harman said.  "Dearborn Heights Fire responded to our request for Mutual Aid with an engine and two rescues.  Our Automatic Aid partners from the city of Inkster, and the WWFA were notified at the time of call and were on location engaged in fire ground operations."

With the column of smoke, its pressure and color, Harman said fire officials feared a potential explosion. But firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and cleared out items in the storage room.

"Very sound tactical and strategic decision making on the part of Captain Marinkovich before arrival, on scene, and during salvage and overhaul kept firefighters safe and minimized fire spread," she said. .

Morris and Garden City police officer Sean Stanchina also stepped in to attach the supply line to hydrants for the firefighters.

"This action on their part freed up another firefighter who was assigned to fire ground operations," Harman said.

Garden City Hospital officials were unavailable for comment Friday.