Multiple departments called to battle house fire in Saline area
A log home near Saline burned Wednesday night despite the efforts of firefighters from six area departments.
Jim Knight | AnnArbor.com
Kevin Taylor stood in his back yard and watched firefighters crawl over his custom log home in Saline Township. Smoke billowed from the roof and the entire back of the home was charred black.
"I heard crackling on the deck, and I looked out and flames were already coming up the window,'' said Taylor, who was the only one home when the fire started about 6 p.m.
At least six fire departments were called to battle the blaze and remained on scene at 8 p.m. Wednesday with smoke pouring from the roof of the home at 8811 Macon Road .
Saline Fire Lt. Kevin Cornell said his department was first on scene and arrived to find at least 50 percent of the home in flames. Fire eventually spread to about 75 percent of the structure.
A nearby garage containing a car was saved.
Cornell was unsure what caused the fire or where it started and was not able to estimate damages Wednesday evening.
He expected crews would remain on scene into the night to investigate.
One of the largest challenges firefighters faced Wednesday were temperatures hovering near 95 degrees, which forced crews to take extra precautions while they were inside, authorities said.
Huron Valley Ambulance transported a firefighter from the scene shortly after 9 p.m., a dispatcher confirmed. Dispatch traffic indicated the man was being treated for heat exhaustion.
Cornell said the estimated 50 firefighters who responded was almost double the number who normally would have come to assist. Trucks lined a long driveway and the entrance to a neighborhood across the street.
"When they come down, they're getting water, cooling down and taking a break," Cornell said. "(The heat) has definitely taken its toll on our guys."
Taylor said he has lived in the 2,500-square-foot log home at 8811 Macon Road since 2000. As he watched firefighters at work, he spoke with John Kacic, the original owner and general contractor for the home when it was built in 1994. Kacic lives nearby and came to the scene when he learned of the fire.
Kacic and Taylor watched firefighters punch holes in the roof and talked quietly about the strength of the structure, and if it could be rebuilt.
Kacic said the home was featured in Country's Best Cabins magazine in the late 1990s and that his company, Log Home Outfitters in Saline, has contracted for more than 100 similar homes. "We've never seen anything like this,'' he said.
Firefighters from Saline, Augusta Township, Milan, Pittsfield Township, Manchester and Britton assisted at the scene.
Firefighters open holes in the roof of a custom log home just outside of Saline on Wednesday.
Jim Knight | AnnArbor.com
Comments
peterster
Fri, Oct 28, 2011 : 12:01 a.m.
My friend use to live there! I have been in the house before and after the fire. I'm heartbroken.
corrine
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
alright, i was the fire wearing a dress and boots and was nearly sweating to death so i cant imagine what my father and other family members were going through in fire gear that usually weighs over 75 pounds. i can assure you the men in the yard were exhausted and had been working very hard. don't criticize them when firefighting is a job only few can do. thoughts and prayers go out to everyone that was there last night and especially out to dan speicher and his family.
Ron Marshall
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 4:11 a.m.
Justin. That picture is just fine, thats what fire fighters do when we come out of a structure fire, we cool off, especially when it's just as hot outside as it is inside... And Just an up date to all, the firefighter that was transported to U Of M Hospital suffered an electrocution and a broken shoulder. He should be fine, they are keeping him overnight for observation. They also transported one to Saline Hospital with burns to the face..
ron
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.
Hope the injured fire fighters recover soon. Justin go visit a local fire dept. and ask if you can put on their gear, then walk around in the heat for a few minutes, then you will know why they we resting.
Salinemary
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 10:44 a.m.
Thanks for posting this Ron. I hope they recover soon. A big thank you to all firefighters who take care of us!
Justin
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 3:32 a.m.
You could have picked a better picture for this tragedy. Half the firemen are lying down on the lawn.
bunnyabbot
Fri, Jul 22, 2011 : 5 a.m.
Justin, it said there were 50 firefighters who came to assist, almost double what would normally have been there, no doubt because of the heat they rotate them more frequently. No structure is worth fatiguing the crews to the point danger/death. they don't call it heat stroke for nothing, if you have ever seen someone have a heat stroke maybe you would be less likely to run your mouth (typing fingers) off. It's not someone just saying they are hot or passing out, it pretty quickly can turn into full out shock followed by seizures (it's scary). A cabin in the woods isn't worth one firefighters life.
labtech
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 4:45 p.m.
LaToya Gibbs, WELL SAID!!!
LaToya Gibbs
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.
How dare you! I am the wife of one of those Firefighters and you have no idea what they go through. That picture is a perfect example of hard work! Those guys were out there in 100 degree weather (heat index at 9:45p last night) a long with their gear, inside the house alone had to be well over 800 degrees. Unless you are a firefighter and remember 90% of them are volunteer, you have NO IDEA what they go through! The wifes and families just pray for a safe return especially on days like yesterday where there are so many factors working against them, if they need to take a minute and sit and hydrate and cool down then SO BE IT!! It's not a job that I would want and sure as hell wouldn't volunteer for, but am VERY PROUD to be the wife of someone who does!
corrine
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 2:28 p.m.
you really disgust me.......
Ron Granger
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.
It's a perfect photo. You should volunteer for a fire department. You really need to wear that gear - and work a fire - to experience what it is like.
Christine
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
It's a great picture. It shows the heat and exhaustion that fire fighters face when fighting a fire, especially in this heat. They aren't lying around because they feel like being lazy. They're laying in the shade and hydrating so that they don't end up a tragedy of the fire as well. Just having to wear all that gear and be outside on a week like this seems dangerous.
ron
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 3:07 a.m.
The company I work for mows their lawn, I'm in shock at the news, a very nice family and beautiful home. I hope they can start over in the same location and rebuild their dream home. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Salinemary
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 2:42 a.m.
We live up the road from this house. It was a beauty. Glad to hear that no one in the home was injured. Wishing a speedy recovery to the firefighter who suffered heat exhaustion.
the leprachaun
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 1:39 a.m.
I saw Augusta Fire responding and Scio Twp was at the fire Station.
Saline_Wins
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
I saw the smoke from it coming through the woods in my back yard. I thought the woods may have been on fire. The heat may have caused this somehow.
John B. Knot
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 2:38 a.m.
Saline_Wins: Yesterday you made the comment "I'm so glad I live in Saline" when commenting about the tragic rape of a young lady? Do you still feel that way?
Craig Lounsbury
Thu, Jul 21, 2011 : 12:42 a.m.
I for one will eagerly await an update on the cause of the fire.