Grand Rapid Press (Michigan)





















HASTINGS -- The wife of a Rutland Township man whose remains went unnoticed in a burned-out car after firefighters extinguished the blaze said she appreciates the apology she received from the Hastings Fire Department and other local officials.

"It's very nice that they finally came through with the apology," Marie Bailey said Thursday.

The daughter of Paul Bailey Sr., 62, found her father's remains in the burned-out shell of his car last Friday, hours after firefighters had responded to douse the vehicle fire in Bailey's driveway.

The seven volunteer firefighters who responded to the scene put out the fire, but told supervisors they never saw the man's remains inside and left a note for the car's owners, as no one was home at the time.

Bailey's family members said the man's skull and bones were visible inside the vehicle.

Marie Bailey said she did not know if her family would pursue a lawsuit over the incident. She declined further comment.

Earlier this week, another family member called on the fire department to apologize.

The apology issued Thursday, signed by Hastings Fire Chief Roger Caris, Mayor Robert May and other public officials, asked the family to accept "our most heartfelt condolences on your recent loss, and our deepest apologies for our failure to detect Mr. Bailey's remains following the recent fire.

"We sincerely regret any emotional distress that this may have caused for you or anyone in your family, or for any of Mr. Bailey's friends or acquaintances," the letter states.

"Please be aware that we are taking definitive steps to ensure to the fullest extent possible that this situation does not arise again in the future."

Others who signed the letter include Assistant Fire Chief Rick Krouse, Hastings City Manager Jeffrey Mansfield, Rutland Township Supervisor Jim Carr and Jim Brown, chairman of the local townships' association that jointly operates the fire department with Hastings.

The car fire appears accidental, police said.