Fire destroys Ypsilanti Township home this morning
A fire destroyed a home this morning in the 200 block of Taft Avenue in Ypsilanti Township, fire officials said.
No one was seriously injured in the 3:05 a.m. blaze, but a family of six has been displaced, officials said.
Ypsilanti Township Fire Capt. Dave Crescio said an Ypsilanti firefighter suffered a minor back injury. He said the fire is believed to have started in the living room of the two-story home and the cause remains under investigation.
When a neighbor called to report the blaze, it was believed that the family could be inside, Crescio said. Firefighters searched the home, confirming no one was there, he said.
An estimated 20 firefighters from Ypsilanti Township, Ypsilanti and Pittsfield Township responded and had the fire under control in about 30 minutes.
Damage to the home was estimated at $180,000.
Comments
Chase Ingersoll
Sun, Jun 19, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.
Could we please update this story ASAP regarding the status of smoke detectors on the property, whether or not they were working and if the neighbor first heard detectors or saw smoke? These sort of details that reinforce what is the first line of protection for lives and property is far more important than "a minor back injury". Further, it reinforces the point that there is really very little that a fire suppression crew can do to save lives or property as compared to what the inhabitants of the property can do by properly utilizing five dollar smoke detectors.
Chase Ingersoll
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 2 a.m.
Learn something about the data regarding the origin of residential fires. If negligence is involved because the owners or inhabitants knowingly violated housing code related to smoke alarms, and a public servant is injured as a approximate cause, could not the owners or inhabitants be charged with gross negligence that resulted in harm to public property - public servant? Another issue is the public bargaining nature of fire suppression services, to the detriment of fire prevention services. It is not in the financial interest of fire departments to not have any fires to put out. Note the calls aforementioned the tax payer to give the fire union whatever they ask every time there is a loss of life life to fire, even though in most cases the deceased died, not because the fire department could not get there ini time, but rather because they were dead before the neighbors noticed the fire and called the department.....and also the afirefighters can do is risk their lives to pull out people who are already dead and then gingerly step around the question that too many don't like to hear - why didn't The victims hear the smoke detector alarms?
brokendei
Sun, Jun 19, 2011 : 9:33 p.m.
I agree, who really cares if someone who put their life on the line to help protect another person and their property, that he/she does not even know, suffers an injury? Please explain the importance of whether or not the neighbor heard the detectors or not. Would there have been a different outcome if they, the neighbor, saw the smoke first? I agree that it is important to express the need for working smoke detectors; however, I feel it is asinine to down play an injury to another person. I feel your point could and should have been made without prioritizing. Finally, I hope that the next time you put your life on the line for someone else, nothing bad happens to you. By the way, great job YFTD, your community can always count on you!!!
WalkingJoe
Sun, Jun 19, 2011 : 3:09 p.m.
Oh, I see it's the families fault no matter what.
Elaine F. Owsley
Sun, Jun 19, 2011 : 12:59 p.m.
Where was the family? Did the fire start with no one home?