Firefighters from five departments battle blaze in Lima Township near Chelsea
Firefighters battle a blaze at a home in Lima Township Thursday morning.
Lisa Allmendinger | AnnArbor.com
The fire in the 10000 block of Trinkle Road was reported about 10:30 a.m. and had been extinguished by 11:45, but firefighters were still on the scene making sure it would not rekindle.
The fire also destroyed an attached garage and two cars at the home. The fire started in the garage, said Chelsea Area Fire Authority Chief Jim Payeur, traveled across the first floor and burned into the attic.
It was determined that the fire was caused by the homeowner, who had cleaned out the fireplace and put ashes in a container just outside the garage, Payeur said Thursday night.
About 25 firefighters from Chelsea, Dexter, Pittsfield Township, Scio Township and Ann Arbor Township battled the blaze. Firefighters parked equipment on a drive behind the house and created an elaborate trail of hoses that had been dragged through the snow from several tankers.
“Those guys busted their humps to get it here,” Payeur said.
Two representatives from the Red Cross were also on the scene to offer assistance and said that they had been told four people lived in the home. One of the homeowners reported the fire to authorities.
Payeur said he expected firefighters to remain on the scene for most of the day.
Firefighters were able to save some of the home's contents, Payeur said, including some computers and a grandfather clock.
"The loss was substantial but the firefighters did save a whole host of contents," he said, adding that the home was insured.
Comments
Wooper
Sat, Feb 12, 2011 : 1:09 a.m.
Mary, I'm so sorry to hear about the fire at your home. While I'm very sad you're going through this chaos and have lost special pictures and mementos (and car), I'm glad that you and your family are okay. If I can help in any way, let me know. Hugs! Karen W.
Ann English
Sat, Feb 12, 2011 : 12:13 a.m.
Were the ashes in a container still hot? Are cold ashes in a container perfectly safe? Years ago, the News ran a story about a house fire caused by hot ashes stored after the owner cleaned a fireplace or something else, but thought the ashes were cold, and left to go somewhere else. It took place on the east side of town or in Ypsilanti.
Bertha Venation
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.
I'm so glad everyone is safe. Next time you see a firefighter or police officer.... please thank them.
DM
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 : 3:20 p.m.
I hate to see bad thinks happening to good people. The homeowner is my Supervisor, someone with a big heart, someone anyone would just wish to work for; I'm just a lucky one! It's just very, very sad….
Mary
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 : 12:24 p.m.
Thanks to everyone's good wishes. My family is safe, though a little smokey. We will never be able to repay the many firefighters who risked their lives to save our home. They collected pictures and homemade gifts from my children and put them in a safe place. Thanks to all of our friends and neighbors who have offered their homes. We have learned over the last few years that what we lost are just "things". They can be replaced. Our family and friends are irreplaceable. We will rebuild as there is no where we'd rather live than here in Chelsea.
Wooper
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 9:01 p.m.
The map is incorrect. The house is actually east of where the pin is. It is just a bit west of Dancer Rd.
Cindy Heflin
Fri, Feb 11, 2011 : 4:01 a.m.
The map has been corrected. Thank you.
FireTimes
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 8:15 p.m.
Kudo's to the Departments working in these miserable conditions. Stay safe..... Nice photo job from AA again. Nicely done.
Cash
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 6:28 p.m.
Heartbreaking for the homeowners..... and fighting a fire in this weather had to be horrible for the firefighters. Just watching the story of the Plymouth fire this morning and seeing the firefighters falling on the ice from the spray....dangerous and miserable! I'm glad there were no injuries.
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 6:18 p.m.
It doesn't look from the pictures like there is much to save. It has to be devastating for the folks who lived there.
Bertha Venation
Thu, Feb 10, 2011 : 4:55 p.m.
I hope there are no injuries.