WDIV
Reprinted with Permission

DETROIT - A burning two-story building in Detroit partially collapsed during a suspicious blaze Friday, injuring six firefighters.

WDIV: Fireground Images
WDIV: Raw Scene Video
WXYZ Video Coverage

Detroit firefighters stand by as aerial units battle a burning two-story partially collapsed building in Detroit Friday, Aug. 13, 2010 . Several firefighters were injured. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Mayor Bing at Receiving Hospital.
(WDIV photo)




Detroit firefighters battle a burning two-story partially collapsed building with aerial units in Detroit Friday, Aug. 13, 2010 . Several firefighters were injured. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)


Detroit EMS confirmed that the injured firefighters were taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital and St. John Hospital after the building's roof collapsed.

Detroit Fire Commissioner James Mack said three were in critical condition and three were in fair condition, with one firefighter having been paralyzed from the waist down and another needing to be intubated.

Names, Condition of Injured:
Brandon Milewski -- 11 years service -- critical condition

Eric Jurmo -- 11 years service -- critical condition

Brian Baluch -- 9 years service -- critical condition

Jeron Whitehorn -- 8 years service -- treated and released

Shayne Raxter -- 9 years service -- fair condition

Gerald Rutowski -- 23 years service -- fair condition

Mack said when the building crumbled, bricks fell onto the firefighters -- which resulted in broken bones for many of the firefighters.

Around 9:30 a.m., Detroit Mayor Dave Bing arrived at Receiving Hospital.

"It's a tough situation to deal with," Bing said. "You don't know the people, but since I've been in this office, they're are part of my family, too."

Bing said he had already met with the families of the injured firefighters.

"Everybody is pulling together," he said.

A large group of firefighters had also gathered outside the hospital.

"It does break our hearts, but our hearts are already broken," one firefighter said outside the hospital. "We're just going to try to be tough and support their families. We have some serious injuries going on here. It's a life-changing day for all of us."

The fire at the building near Jefferson Avenue and Dickerson Street was classified as two-alarm and started just after 6 a.m.

Mack said the incident is being investigated as an arson. He said the building had caught fire and had been extinguished two hours before, but that it rekindled.

"The job is dangerous. We don't need situations in this city where people are starting fires," Mack said. "People think this is a joke or think it's funny. But we don't need it, because people can get hurt. People can get killed."

The building housed a phone business, beauty salon and liquor store.

Clouds of dark smoke shrouded the scene mid-morning but dissipated as crews poured water on top of the building.

Witnesses said they heard two loud explosions before seeing the flames.

Related


Views: 1001

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Prayers for the speedy recovery of our Brothers, Prayers for all involved.
God Speed to our Brothers at Detroit Fire Dept. for a quick and full recovery to full health. Please remember these men and their families in your prayers.
Listening to the audio of it now, chilling. Thoughts and prayers are with the injured and their FF family.
http://www.firehouse.com/podcast/incident-audio/audio-six-detroit-f...
Here on the West side of the state we want to say are prayers and thoughts are with you and to our fellow fire fighters .
Our prayers are with our brothers and their families.
Stay strong Brothers our thoughts and prayers are with you all...
Another sad day in Detroit , brothers ,our prayers are with your injured and their families , may all recover quickly and fully
my prayers go out 2 all of them.
we will b praying 4 them FIRE FIGHTING IS A BROTHERHOOD NO MATER WHERE U R FROM. It hurts 2 c post like this.
Once again, we are sadly reminded of just how dangerous this profession is. These were all seasoned veterans who's family, friend and fellow firefighters as we speak are saying prayers in hope of their injuries being successfully mitigated by the medical professionals who also as we speak are doing their best to save their lives.

There are so many people involved with the care and treatment and as both a professional firefighter and husband of a critical care nurse, you have to know that even though it is not necessarily fair, the care given to a injured firefighter is nothing less than exemplary, regardless where you work or live. In the case of these firefighters, they have such a tremendous live saving advantage having such close access to some of the best critical care hospitals in the world.

The community at large all understand the commitment and sacrifice that each and everyone of us make when we get into our engines and respond to the call of help. It's what we do. May god bless and watch over everyone touched by this tragedy.

Mike Schlags, Fire Captain (Retd.)
Santa Barbara County FD
Prayers for our brothers!!
Has anybody heard of an update on our brothers conditions.

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Find Members Fast


Or Name, Dept, Keyword
Invite Your Friends
Not a Member? Join Now

© 2024   Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.   Powered by

Badges  |  Contact Firefighter Nation  |  Terms of Service