JOE LaFURGEY
WOOD TV
Reprinted with Permission

KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A Kalamazoo Township business owner is in critical condition at a hospital after firefighters pulled him out of his convenience store Tuesday morning.


Bob Reed, 63, is in critical condition at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.

A passerby saw smoke just after 7 a.m. coming from the Hi-Lo Convenience Store, 3912 Douglas Ave.

Customers and friends, many who are one in the same, said they heard the sirens, saw the smoke and feared the worst.

"I've known Bob for years and years," said Eric Burnham. "He's been a pillar of the community, helps a lot of people."

Firefighters arrived in minutes and broke through the locked front door. There was not much evidence of fire damage, but there was a lot of smoke. The smoke, coupled with the lay out of the store, made the rescue more of a challenge.

"Smoke was heavy, so they were on their knees doing the search," Kalamazoo Township Fire Marshal Todd Kowalski told 24 Hour News 8.

Firefighters have a standard and efficient search method for homes on fire. They can't see much, so they feel their way along walls, going from room to room and reach onto couches and beds to feel for people.

But the smoke in the HiLo convenience store caused different problems. Firefighters have to get around racks filled with heavy merchandise, display counters, restaurant equipment and other obstacles.

"It's a lot more time consuming just because of floor space," Kowalski said. It took "right around 10 minutes from us getting on scene to the time we were able to pull him out" of a bathroom on the main floor.

The fire does not appear suspicious. Kowalski said it appears the fire began in the basement. "We've got heavy fire damage in the basement and heat and smoke damage to the main level."