In what appears to be the first hour of the fire, sheets of orange flame lick from the M floor windows at the location of the Highway Department microfilm room and from the roof and head-buildings above. This scene was clearly visible from the classroom windows of Kalamazoo Street School and soon all normal activity was suspended and we were led outside to witness this astonishing sight. The term "fireproof building" never meant anything to any of us afterward who saw this happen. Photo from State Archives of Michigan, negative 18078, folder "Disasters, Fire, State Office Building".