Crews clear site of fatal 2011 house fire
A crew brings down the remains of a house on Stony Creek Road in Ypsilanti Township.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
The remains of a home where a fire claimed the life of an 85-year-old woman have been cleared from the 5800 block of Stony Creek Road in Ypsilanti Township.
The damaged home has sat vacant since it burned to a total loss in a blaze sparked by an electrical outlet on Feb. 3, 2011.
The fire also severely burned the 86-year-old husband of the woman killed in the fire. He suffered from dementia and spent at least a month in the hospital recovering from his burns. He has since passed away.
Township Building Inspector Ron Fulton said the delay in the home’s demolition was caused by a misunderstanding over who owned the property.
The couple’s two sons, who did not live in the home and were not there at the time of the fire, were unaware that their father had quitclaimed the home to them in November of 2010 - four months before the fire.
The father never told his sons what he had done, so they thought they had to probate the house and were waiting on court paperwork to take control of the estate. When a title search was finally conducted several months ago, the quitclaim was discovered.
A crew brings down the remains of a house on Stony Creek Road in Ypsilanti Township.
Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com
“Mom and dad did a pretty good thing for their sons,” Fulton said. “Once they learned they owned the house and they had a legal right to it, they hired a contractor and they are working on clearing it now.”
Fulton said the home won’t be rebuilt and the family plans to market the land.
Police officials said woman was in a back bedroom when the fire broke out. Two Ypsilanti Township firefighters attempted CPR, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. It's not clear where the man was inside the home.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.
Comments
Rob MI
Thu, Dec 13, 2012 : 5:21 p.m.
I remembered this story and would wonder what happened to the gentleman who had survived the fire when his wife did not as I would drive by the property. I was also curious as to why it was taking so long for any action to occur. I now have my unfortunate answer. My thoughts are with the family as this tragedy closes.
jns131
Fri, Dec 14, 2012 : 6:11 p.m.
They say that when one dies, the other dies within a year of the other, if not right away. Although my grandmother out lived her husband by 15 years. I am glad of that because otherwise I would never have known my grandparents growing up. Wow. This is so sad and yes, I do remember this story from last year as well. Glad to hear there is closure on this.
Tlmk75
Thu, Dec 13, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.
He died not too long after this happened. It was said he died of a broken heart. My dad knows this family and I saw the house as it was on fire. Very sad. May they rest in paradise together!
glimmertwin
Thu, Dec 13, 2012 : 2:11 p.m.
Very sad story. Hopefully with the site cleared it can give all involved closure.