Jesse

Tue, Mar 2, 2010 : 3:47 p.m.

As I stated in a previous post, no one denys the fault of the b/f in the original fire. We know what happened and how this whole situation started. What I would like to see is an apology at the very least to the people who lost everything. Why was it stated in the follow up that the 2nd fire was not a cause of human error? Granted I'm sure there are policys that prevent that, but my whole point this entire time is simply that it never should have rekindled. Maybe budget cuts have them shortening the time they are in a home. A lot of places are trying to cut back. I'm willing to admit, in my passion about this in earlier posts I was prolly much harsher than I intended, but these ppl I have loved and considered family for over 13 yrs. In these troubled times, to lose a lifetime of memories and your home to "human error" esp after you feel and have been told the job was done correctly the 1st time. Is just little comfert to hear. Then to see them deny any type of wrong doing is worse.

Jesse

Tue, Mar 2, 2010 : 3:24 p.m.

Ronald, while I do appreciate that you can understand this should not have happened. The persons there are familer with what a thermo camera looks like. I've also since posting talked to several friends of mine who are firefighters. If a thermo cam had been taken in and used to "carefully look for hot spots" they would have been found. To my understanding (from said friends) it shows many varying temps. You should be able to see both hot and cold spots and have an understanding of what the average temp in the area is, and see if anything is above that. All I see, is not an admitance of human error (with 2 sep fire depts that margin for error should have been much less) but a denial of any wrong doing or mistakes on their behalf. Quite simply they dropped the ball and are refusing to admit it. Now as I've previously stated, I hold these people in high regard for what they do everyday. But it's sad they cannot admit to this mistake. When I mess up and feel bad about it, I take responsiblity for my actions and do my best to atone for them. I still have yet to see this from those who you say feel terrible about it. It is not my intention to slander anyone, but to voice that this mistake never should have happened and voice my opinion that this should be atoned for. Not denied and put this entire loss onto someone whos damage to the home could have been fixed..

ronaldduck

Tue, Mar 2, 2010 : 3:05 p.m.

Scooter Dog you said "if in putting out a fire they cause a hazzardous toxic mess that pollutes say the sewer system or on land or buildings,guess who gets the cleanup bill, are you ready for this? you do,thats right you get the big cleanup bill for something they caused, its the law." My point was that I didn't start the fire. If the fire had never started in the first place then there would be no need for cleanup. So the person who started the fire is ultimately responsible not the fire dept.

scooter dog

Tue, Mar 2, 2010 : 11:05 a.m.

Hello, (ronaldduck) I just re read my comment 10 times kindly tell me where it says anything about you or the fire dept starting a fire.There is an old saying that goes like this (engage brain before putting mouth in gear)

ronaldduck

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 5:24 p.m.

Jesse you are accusing the fire chief of lying based on what witnesses said. I don't know how they could say for certain that thermal imaging camera's were not used. First of all they probably don't even know what they look like and second in order for them to know for sure it would mean that they watched 15 or 20 firefighters every second of the time that they were on the scene, which didn't happen. While I agree that the rekindle should not have happened, firefighters are human and make mistakes. Unfortunately this time it caused extensive damage. Believe me when I say that only the homeowner feels worse than the firefghters about this. Scooter Dog you said that if the fire dept causes a hazardous toxic mess that the property owner gets to pay the bill for clean up. Referencing the fire dept you state "thats right you get the big clean up bill for something that they caused" I've been a firefighter for over 30 years and have yet to go to a fire that I started. Seems like the person who started the fire is ultimately at fault.

Jesse

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 4:32 p.m.

Firstly Scooter, please don't put words in my mouth. I've said nothing about any legal action. I just feel as if this 2nd fire never should have happened. Maybe if they had actually taken the thermal cameras in as they said they would have seen the fire. But there are several witnesses who have attested to the fact they saw no such equpment going in nor coming out of the home. Now if this were any of you, I'm sure you'd believe as I do and I know many others do, including fire fighters I've spoken with, that this 2nd fire never should have happened. And while you may have a hard time beliving the fire rekindled, the fact is that it did. The second article clearly states they left some type of smoldering remains that caused the reignition of the 2nd fire.

scooter dog

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 3:05 p.m.

If the party in question had used a little more common sence there would be no need to call the fire dept in the first place.Good luck finding fault with any fire dept.The laws protect them in anything they do or for any damage they cause responding to and putting out or not putting out a fire.If in putting out a fire they cause a hazzardous toxic mess that pollutes say the sewer system or on land or buildings,guess who gets the clean up bill,are you ready for this? you do,thats right you get the big clean up bill for something they caused,its the law.The law says they cannot be held liable for anything while putting out a fire. I also find it hard to believe that the fire got going again after 7 hrs of being put out.I am sure the fire marshall will look into all aspects of what happened

Erica Hobbs

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 2:51 p.m.

Here's a link to the follow-up story: http://www.annarbor.com/news/scio-township-home-destroyed-after-fire-re-ignites/

Jesse

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 12:29 p.m.

Actually he/she has been inside the building and has made a fact based judgement based on experience and training. The article clearly states that they say the fire was "Under control within 20 mins". If the fire was so under control, why did it rekindle hours later? It never should have happened. While I do have strong feelings attached to this the facts are simple. They spent 20 mins putting water on a fire, did not follow protocol and ensure the smoking building they left did not have any smoldering remains in the attic or walls, and a terrible stituation that could have been fixed now cannot be fixed. Imagine thinking that everything can be fixed, a new roof put on and a remodled kitchen& going to sleep thinking you still have a home, then waking up hours after the fire department told you they has done their jobs n put out the fire, and finding out it wasn't so. As you stated 2 seperate fire depts worked on this together and the home still recaught hours later. That doesn't seem wrong to you..

Indicat

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 11:58 a.m.

Jesse - I do feel badly for the family who lost everything. However, you are stating your opinion as fact, that the rekindling of the fire was due to negligence of two fire departments. Your opinion is based on the opinion of one firefighter, who was not a responding firefighter to this accident. He/she does not know what actually occurred.

Jesse

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.

Also, how would you feel if someone you know and love lost everything due to human error by a group of people, who I do hold in high regard for what they do and I'm not saying they don't save lives or don't do much good. But when I stopped by at about 10 pm, the entire home was still intact, minus said holes in roof and the not even 1/2 of the kitchen that needed to be replaced. These things could have been fixed. I cannot stress that enough. After the fire department left, you would feel secure that the job had been done and the fire had been extinguished. What if they had stayed and gone to sleep in the rooms that were safe from fire damage? I shudder to think of the possiblities and I am glad no one was home, when the fire restarted at 1 in the morning, beyond what I could ever put into words. Why did the fire restart hours after the fire department left? What types of damage could that much larger fire have done to the homes around it I wonder.. Thankfully this didn't happen.

Steve Pepple

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 8:39 a.m.

Several comments have been removed because of name calling.

Jesse

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 8:33 a.m.

While he has admitted his fault in this, things do happen. What should not have happened is the fire department still leaving with out following proper protocol and leaving a smoking building unattended w/o proper supervision. They are supposed to sift thru things and make sure that things aren't still burning. Which did not happen. No one is blaming them for the inital fire. But I do feel if the proper protocol was followed, the "rekindling" would not have happened. The rekindling caused far more damage that of the intial fire. Originally there was only a hole in the room and not even an entire kitchen that would have needed replacing. Now there is almost nothing worth saving out of the home. Please also note while I do know the owners, I am only speaking on my behalf, not theirs. I can only voice my opinion based off of what I was told by a firefighter I personally know and what the fire departments protocols are supposed to be.

Jesse

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 : 8:04 a.m.

Not fishy IsAnOpinion. The inital fire was not put out properly leaving smoldering remains in the attic and/or seams of the home. Believe me when I say the inital damage was much prefered from the homeowners prespective as opposed to the whole home going. The intial damage could have been fixed and their memories would still be intact as well as their place to live.

Isanopinion

Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 10 p.m.

Seven hours later the fire "rekindled itself"? Hmm, that seems a little fishy to me.

ybecuz

Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 7:48 p.m.

If you choose to buy PL/PD as your fire department, then this is the result.

Jesse

Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 3:44 p.m.

I want to also make sure all who read this know that the home was able to be fixed before the fire reignited itself at about 1 in the morning. The kitchen would have needed to be replaced as well as the roof. But the fire was in the attic and in the walls, had the fire department made sure it was properly put out the rest of the house would still be intact. I am deeply sad at the loss of my friends Moms home due to a lack of following protocol. We also want to thank the Red Cross for their assistance. They have been put up in a hotel for a few nights and recieved monotary assistance The Red Cross responded very quickly to offer assistance and their help has been invaluble.

Jesse

Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 3:32 p.m.

Firstly the home is a complete loss. I am a family friend of 13 years. Secondly the house is a total loss and it is the fire departments fault. They did NOT have the fire under control before they left. They failed to follow protocal and stay until the smoke was gone and ensure the fire was fully out. What started as a kitchen fire with damage to the roof that could have been fixed, ended in a family losing their home and memories due to their neglince. Its a sad day for all of us who know them. But as long as they're all ok is what matters to us. Just wanted to make that correction. The house reignited at about 1 in the morning and burned almost totally down.

stonecutter1

Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 3:22 a.m.

Gotta love Ypsi Trailers!

Robert

Sun, Feb 28, 2010 : 3:03 a.m.

The home appears to be a complete loss. The fire rekindled itself, and firefighters had to return to the scene a few hours after leaving. I saw flames traveling through the entire attic. It appears the second fire ruined the front half of the home, as opposed to the back where it started. Firefighters had to bring in a ladder truck to douse the blaze. I noticed the front window was smashed and it looks like a majority of the roof burned away.