Ypsilanti Township house is 'total loss,' 6 people displaced by fire
Ypsilanti Township firefighters battle a blaze in a house on East Clark Road.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Four adults and two children were displaced after an electrical fire started late Monday morning, destroying their Ypsilanti Township home, said township fire Capt. Larry James.
Ypsilanti Township firefighters responded to a call of a structure fire at about 11:23 a.m. in the 1200 block of East Clark Street. The six people residing in the two-story, single-family home were there when the fire started, James said, and one of the residents made the call.
James said the electrical fire appears to have stemmed from a fuse panel.
"What got their attention was when the fuses blew," James said. "By then (the fire) was already into the walls and into the roof."
James said flames were seen coming through the roof within two minutes after fire officials received the call.
None of the residents were injured. One firefighter was treated at the scene for "too much heat and exhaustion," James said.
Fire officials had the fire under control within two hours, James said. They left the scene at about 4:45 p.m.
Off-duty Ypsilanti Township firefighters were called to assist, as were about eight firefighters from the Ypsilanti Fire Department.
"It's going to be a total loss, and they were insured for $150,000 on the structure," said James, who estimated an additional $50,000 of damage to personal property within the home.
James said the American Red Cross, Washtenaw County Chapter was contacted. Red Cross officials said they were assisting the family with food and clothing.
Ypsilanti Township firefighters work to extinguish a blaze this morning.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Comments
kay
Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
As the homeowner, Id like to thank you for posting my full address on the internet so everyone knows exactly where to go to gawk, dump their trash, loot, leave their business cards/ messages etc. And yes I have had to deal with all of the above. I'd also like to thank you for your misreporting of the facts involving this fire and how it's created even more of a mess for me to deal with than it already was. myself and the TWO other residents who were "displaced" are working as hard as we can to put this behind us. and thankfully I always carry insurance. Thanks to the fire department and all those who actually helped make this nightmare a little easier to get through.
Ann English
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 1:24 a.m.
Good idea, Larry. The News has in the past reported house fire stories and told readers how to prevent particular causes of house fires, such as going to bed with the clothes dryer running.
Ann English
Wed, Jan 19, 2011 : 12:38 a.m.
Where did this fire take place? To me, East Clark Road is that part of Clark that intersects with LeForge Road, and dead ends to the west of it.
Larry Kestenbaum
Tue, Jan 18, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.
What was the problem with the fuse panel? It sounds like this fire may have been preventable. Homeowners, take note!
dading dont delete me bro
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
big UPS to our ytfd! you guys (and gals(?)) rock.
Cash
Mon, Jan 17, 2011 : 2:07 p.m.
Melanie, Those are amazing pictures...thank you!