Fire damages Pittsfield Township home, but residents escape safely
Firefighters extinguished a garage fire and kept damage to the adjoining home to a minimum in Pittsfield Township early this morning.
A caller reported smoke was filling the house in the 3000 block of Hawks Avenue and flames were visible from the front at 2:19 a.m., the Pittsfield Township Fire Department said in a press release. Upon arrival, crews found heavy fire in the garage extending into the home. The homeowner said all residents had already fled the house.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze with an aggressive interior attack, the press release said, containing it and minimizing damage to the first floor of the home. Firefighters were also able to save a vehicle parked in the garage.
Damage was estimated at $65,000 to the building and contents. Firefighters said the blaze is believed to have started on the exterior of the house. The cause is under investigation but is believed to be accidental, according to the press release.
Comments
neel125
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 2 p.m.
Great job Pittsfield FD! Again remember to vote for the Pittsfield Public Safety mileage on May 3!!!
BornNRaised
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.
Meanwhile 2 weeks ago, a detached garage caught fire in Ann Arbor, 4 blocks from a closed fire station. Destroyed the garage and 1/2 of the house as well. Good job Pittsfield. Don't ever follow in the footsteps of Ann Arbor. But hey, we sure do have some pretty trees, golf courses, and a nice piece of crap new city hall!
pvitaly
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 1:28 p.m.
Sarah, I am with you on this one. I live on Torrey - how did I not hear any of this? Crazy!
Sarah
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.
If the information is correct, this fire happened within a couple doors from my house. I wonder how I managed to sleep through any sirens or smell of smoke and how i didn't notice anything this morning.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 11:59 a.m.
" The cause is under investigation but is believed to be accidental, according to the press release." Other than "accidental" is the only other option "intentional" (as in arson) with respect to categorizing the general nature of a cause? I'm asking in general terms, not specific to this fire. For instance would faulty wiring be considered accidental? what about a pot on a stove? a candle left burning?
sirotan
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
I would think "act of God" would be the category if the house had been hit by lightning and then caught fire, etc. This happened down the street from where my family lives. My sister apparently heard an explosion "like a cannon going off" shortly before all the fire trucks came screeching up the street.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 1:16 p.m.
thanks AF
Aces Full
Wed, Apr 13, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
All of those things you listed would be deemed "accidental". I can't think of any situation where it would be anything other than "accidental" or "intentional." Of course until the investigations are complete by the fire and police departments, if there's any evidence that points to a possibility of arson, then it will usually be deemed "suspicious."