Ypsilanti firefighters douse two fires attributed to carelessness
Firefighters in Ypsilanti put out two fires — one on a balcony, the other on a porch — before they could do much damage Friday.
Around 2 a.m., the fire crews were dispatched to the 300 block of Jarvis Street in Ypsilanti for reports of a third floor balcony that had caught fire.
Lt. Scott Maddison of the Ypsilanti Fire Department said a resident on the third floor of an apartment building was using a charcoal grill on a wooden deck, which is against city ordinances.
“It caused a fire that burned down from the third floor to the second floor,” Maddison said.
A woman who lived on the second floor below the balcony was turning off her air conditioner and opening a window when she smelled the smoke and immediately called 911. Firefighters had the small blaze out before it spread to the rest of the building. The blaze caused about $3,000 in damages, but could have been much worse, Maddison said.
“(The woman) did a good job” by calling 911 so quickly, Maddison said.
Another major blaze was averted Friday afternoon thanks to the watchful eyes of firefighters.
A fire crew on a truck traveling in the 900 block of Congress Street about 3:30 p.m. saw a column on a porch ablaze at an apartment house.
“That one was (caused) by discarded cigarette butts,” Maddison said.
A plastic container that was being used as an ashtray next to the column caught fire, and the fire spread up the post. The fire was quickly put out.
Maddison said the fires were close calls that could have been much worse.
“Both were caused by carelessness, I guess you’d say,” he said.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
CaiBrayMama
Mon, Jun 18, 2012 : 3:42 p.m.
There was a 911 call made about the porch fire before firefighters responded. They didn't just happen to see it.
OLDTIMER3
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 1:59 p.m.
I am suprised there wasn't a fire on Jackson rd West of Parker rd last night as a man despite the open fire ban was out burning a huge pile of scrap lumber. Some people just don't learn. I am sure he didn't call for a permit or they would have told him no.
Madhatter
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
Perhaps the man didn't understand the law/safety hazard. Did you have the courage to speak with the man regarding your concerns, or are you just going to complain about it on here?
Ron Granger
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 12:58 a.m.
"A fire crew on a truck traveling in the 900 block of Congress Street about 3:30 p.m. saw a column on a porch ablaze at an apartment house." Out cruising around, the firefighters just happen to spot a porch on fire and put it out. I'd love to hear the re-enactment of the cab conversation. "Hey, is that porch really on fire?"
Tom Smith
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 1:26 p.m.
Would you rather they'd said, "Dunno. Let's go back to the station and wait for the call"?
Chase Ingersoll
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 11:08 p.m.
When does "I guess you could say carelessness" become criminal negligence? If a landlord were this "careless" and failed to comply with some code, many of you would be crowing for a criminal prosecution. But just another careless renter - you don't respect them enough to think that they should be held responsible for such carelessness. Perhaps you will reconsider if I remind you that the carelessness was committed by meat eating, environmentally unfriendly tobacco company supporting, smokers.
Madhatter
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
Chase, crimnal negligence goes a little too far--on either side. However, your point is well-taken. Next thing we know, the government will be mandating that landlords install mandatory gas grills on cement pads to ensure there are no more porch fires!
Jimmy McNulty
Sat, Jun 16, 2012 : 12:30 p.m.
How do you know they were not grilling corn, tofu dogs, and black bean burgers?