Ypsilanti woman dies in house fire despite rescue attempts
Fire officials inspect the remains of a house on Ainsworth Circle in Ypsilanti after a fire killed an 81-year-old woman.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Almease Pope was found in the kitchen of her long-time home at 405 Ainsworth Circle, where firefighters believe the blaze started.
Family members of Almease Pope, who died in a house fire on Ainsworth Circle in Ypsilanti, embrace after arriving on the scene Thursday afternoon.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com>
Anthony Ray, 44, said he ran over to the house after he saw smoke coming from it and started pounding the side of it. "I kept hollering out her name. Miss Pope! Miss Pope!" Ray said he heard her voice inside.
He and a police officer broke out a window, but there was nothing else they could do, he said.
Ypsilanti Fire Capt. Dan Cain said three firefighters rushed into the blazing home trying to save Pope.
"I can't say enough (about) the courage those three guys showed trying to get into that building, because the conditions were unbelievable," Cain said.
One firefighter was transported to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for treatment of heat exhaustion.
"The pounding those guys took trying to get her is just fantastic," Cain said. "It was a hell of an effort."
About 15 family members also rushed to the scene of the fire.
One was Rose Vawters, Pope's niece, who said she'd visited with her aunt on Wednesday.
"I pray that the smoke overtook her," Vawters said from outside of the house in mid-afternoon.
"I wish that I had stayed a little while longer talking to her," she added. "She's finally at rest now. She worried a lot (because) she was by herself."
Firefighters were called to the home shortly after noon Thursday, based on a report that the house was on fire and a person may have been trapped inside.
Firefighters — including crews from Ypsilanti Township, Ann Arbor and Pittsfield Township — had the fire under control by about 1:30.
Among the crowd at the fire was Ricky Jefferson, a neighbor and Ypsilanti City Council member.
"For this to happen is kind of devastating," Jefferson said. "I think it’s very, very unfortunate that it happened. My prayers go out to the family because we don’t want to lose somebody this way.”
Vawters said Pope was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Ypsilanti Township, where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. She also enjoyed reading and fishing, and took pride in her home library.
Vawters said her aunt will be missed by many people.
"Everyone one the block knew who she was," she said.
Ypsilanti Fire officials said the cause is undetermined but it was believed to be accidental. They remained at the scene this afternoon as they investigated the origin of the blaze.
A total of 19 firefighters were called to the scene, said Fire Chief Jon Ichesco.
The house was a total loss. Firefighters estimated the value at about $80,000. The neighboring house also suffered some exterior damage.
Comments
Cendra Lynn
Fri, May 13, 2011 : 9:37 p.m.
How many more people have to die in house fires before we citizens rise up and demand public safety monies be put ahead of everything else?
Wolf's Bane
Fri, May 13, 2011 : 11:46 a.m.
No working fire alarms and no carbon monoxide detectors. Very sad indeed and preventable!
Cynthia
Fri, May 13, 2011 : 12:44 a.m.
RIP Auntie!!!!
ypsiborn
Fri, May 13, 2011 : 11:22 a.m.
My family has lived on Ainsworth Circle for over 60 years and I have known Mrs, Pope for over 50 years. My heart broke to hear such tragic news of her dying like this, I was on the Circle Sinday and looked over at her house never knowing what would be her end. People love your family and love others hard, a day can make a big difference. Praying for Sonny, Mrs. Collins and Nancy and the entire family RIH Mrs. Pope
James Moore
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 10:15 p.m.
im never a negetive person, but almease bein my god-mother and one of my grandmother's close friends. dont allow the new reporters to fool you after how long it took them to get there for a 3 minute drive. always will love and miss her
montyman
Fri, May 13, 2011 : 9:52 a.m.
Yes, please elaborate.
steve h
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 11:38 p.m.
what are you insinuating?
julieswhimsies
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
I am so sorry. I send my sincere condolences to the family.
Cash
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 8:52 p.m.
So sad. I'm sorry for all of her family. I know the firefighters tried hard....they shouldn't beat themselves up.
dading dont delete me bro
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 8:25 p.m.
condolences to the family. sad a single house fire requires this many departments to respond. city council, please realize you CAN'T keep cutting public safety.
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, May 13, 2011 : 1:15 a.m.
geez-o-petes, shaggy nailed it in the response. mutual aid is a great thing. however, in addition to shaggy's points, think about the lack of coverage in the jurisdictions that the mutal aid came from.
shaggy
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 11:52 p.m.
@Geez-O-Petes-Why? Because if there were more firefighters on the initial response it could have meant the difference between finding a savable patient because you had the help IMMEDIATELY, or making a body recovery because you had to wait for the next closest mutual aid company to arrive in order to get enough personnel on scene to make an attack on the fire as well as doing a thorough search for victims. Thats why. God bless all the firefighters involved, sounds like they did a heck of a job, hold your heads high. My deepest sympathy's to the family and loved ones of Mrs. Pope.
Geez-O-Petes
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 10:12 p.m.
"sad a single house fire requires this many departments to respond." Why? This is a great example of mutual aid and allocating resources to best benefit the needs of the community..
Ellen
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 8:25 p.m.
I'm so very sorry. So sad.
WalkingJoe
Thu, May 12, 2011 : 8:09 p.m.
My prayers go out to the family. As her niece said she's at rest and in a better place now.