Fire destroys home in Dexter Township
A fire destroyed a single-story home on Halfmoon Lake in Dexter Township early this morning, but the woman inside escaped safely.
Fire crews were on the scene in about 3 minutes after the 911 call came in at 3:01 a.m., but it was too late to save the home in the 13700 block of Edgewater Drive, said Dexter Area Fire Lt. Tim Burke.
“It was well involved before we even got there,” Burke said. “It was a small home that went up pretty quick.”
The fire damaged the siding on a home next door, but firefighters were able to prevent further damage to that home and keep the blaze from spreading to others, Burke said. The area has many homes closely spaced around the lake, he said.
The home’s walls are still standing, but the roof and the floor both collapsed, Burke said.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control within about 30 minutes, he said, but some were still on the scene just before 8 a.m.
The cause of the fire has not been determined and no damage estimate was available. Fire inspector Don Dettling, who was among those fighting the fire this morning, will likely return to the home to investigate later today, Burke said.
About 20 to 25 firefighters from Dexter, Chelsea and Putnam township battled the blaze, Burke said.
The area does not have fire hydrants. Burke was not sure if the home had working smoke detectors.
Comments
Nik
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 : 11:31 p.m.
My heart goes out to this family. My house burnt down back in may, also in the middle of the night, so I can sympathize with the horror of waking up to your house in flames. My family's and my prayers are with you. If there is anything we can do to help, please let me know. Yours, Niki and the chapman family
Fat Bill
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 : 8:52 p.m.
At 3:01 AM, you could probably perform minor surgery on me. Likely the fire was going for quite a while before it was noticed. Studies have also shown how easy it is to sleep through smoke detectors screeching as well.
greenstriper
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 : 6:35 p.m.
Minor correction needed- the house was in the 13700 block of Edgewater Drive.
Isanopinion
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 : 6:33 p.m.
Very interesting. Person was home, house was rolling with FD response of 3 minutes??
Jake
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
Three minutes!!!! Really?????
RuralMom
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
Oh its possible, the fire substation is on N.Territorial, but more importantly that neighborhood is filled with firefighters, not sure if paid or volunteer but I hear them leave out on calls all the time. So I believe the 3 minutes could be accurate!