Posted on Tue, Dec 27, 2011 : 8:51 a.m.
Two suffer smoke inhalation in fire at Ann Arbor duplex
By Lee Higgins
Two men were taken by ambulance to University of Michigan Hospital with smoke inhalation after a fire broke out this morning on the second-floor of a duplex at 253 Brookridge Court, Ann Arbor fire officials said.
A grease fire broke out at 2:05 a.m. in the kitchen, where one of the men was cooking french fries, and it got out of control, officials said.
Both men made in downstairs and out of the building, Battalion Chief Randy Menard said. The fire caused $120,000 damage, he said, and the second-floor unit will have to be remodeled. No one lives in the first-floor unit.
Comments
Ann English
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 : 12:17 a.m.
So it was a grease fire. What was used to put the fire out, sand? Personal responsibility can be more effective in saving lives than more government personnel, such as cutting down on frying food. Usually news articles about house fires that start in kitchens note that stovetop burners left unattended led to the fires, even if it's only an empty pot on a turned-on burner.
BornNRaised
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 3:15 a.m.
@ Chase. You seem to be a man that likes facts. Here's one for you: • The International City Management Association (ICMA): states in "Managing Fire Services" that at least four and often eight or more firefighters, each under the supervision of an officer, "should respond to fire suppression operations." Further, it says, "If about 16 trained firefighters are not operating at the scene of a working fire within the critical time period, then dollar loss and injuries are significantly increased, as is fire spread." It has found five-person companies 100-percent effective, four-person companies 65-percent effective, and three-person companies 38-percent effective.7 AAFD operates with 3 person companies. We're 'budgeted' for 4, but that never happens.
Chase Ingersoll
Tue, Dec 27, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
Before commenting about the need for additional fire trucks and stations, let's at least wait to find out exactly what the response time was AND OF COURSE THE PART ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS ON THE PREMISES. The same poor logic that most of you are using, could be applied as follows: There is this intersection, where there are a lot of accidents, and people are potentially dying waiting for the ambulances to arrive and then having to drive all that way to the hospital ER. So should we build another ER so as to reduce the travel time, or perhaps we could just buy a new ambulance and pay to have parked by the intersection, so that we can quickly respond to the accident. And of course if anyone were to suggest that perhaps a stoplight or speed bump at the intersection might actually reduce the number of accidents, let's tell them to sit down and shut up, because they obviously don't care about accident victims and are just Haters when it comes to not wanting to pay for additional ambulances or salaries for ambulance drivers and ER workers. Chase Ingersoll
BornNRaised
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 2:27 a.m.
So tell us Chase... how many firefighters do you think this city should have? Where do you think we should be in relation to the national average? I only ask since you seem to be big on wanting people to know the facts of the issue. I'm curious if you know all the facts? Fires aren't the only issue the FD is having a problem with in this city. It's just the only one that gets reported on. Medicals, car accidents, public service requests, gas leaks, etc, don't get reported on as they aren't as story worthy. Rightfully so. So please, since you are coming down on those asking for more services... tell us what your magic number would be for firefighters? While we're at it, how about police officers?
Chase Ingersoll
Wed, Dec 28, 2011 : 2 a.m.
Note the last 3 incidences of fire fatalities and that in each case smoke detectors were not present or not working. Since every fire is being reported and results in a propaganda incident for those who are arguing that more money should be spent on the fire department because of all the people that have died. Accordingly, readers might acknowledge whether or not they ever read or recall the information on AnnArbor.com about the other incidents, before they join the class chattering for additional services. This sort of lack of informed response needs to be countered first by those who are writing for AnnArbor.com and if not them, then those who are reading.
AACity12
Tue, Dec 27, 2011 : 10:05 p.m.
That Logic doesn't really apply. When an ambulance arrives you get highly trained paramedics that are able to start life saving procedures on the way. They also have direct radio comms with the ER and all their highly trained staff. On top of that if its really far then those medics can call for a helicopter to come get ya. My question is what does smoke detectors have to do with the fact that the AAFD was unable to respond to other calls last night during this fire? Smoke detectors may have saved their lives but the fact still remains that the FD was at its limit and unable to provide crucial services. I do agree that smoke detectors save lives.
BornNRaised
Tue, Dec 27, 2011 : 6:55 p.m.
Other that agreeing with you that smoke detectors are crucial in homes, I don't see what the point of all the other stuff was other than a rant???
CityFF
Tue, Dec 27, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
And that's on a Monday when the 1000's of college kids are not in town.
BornNRaised
Tue, Dec 27, 2011 : 2:23 p.m.
City council & Mayor, This fire call requiring all FD trucks, along with 3 other medicals all happened during what your paid experts called the 2-8am down time where they suggested reduced staffing. This doesn't include the medical that HVA requested FD to, but could not free up any trucks for. Just thought you might like to know what really happens out on the streets.
Major
Tue, Dec 27, 2011 : 3:59 p.m.
Falling on deaf ears, they only care about "art".