Dog Community

Huge house fire!! (pics included) [Liesje]

Posted : 12/1/2007 11:22:14 PM

There is/was a huge house fire right by our house!!!

We were under a winter storm watch, so of course DH and I decide it's a perfect time to go shopping at Target and Meijer! No one else will want to be driving and it won't be busy even during the holiday rush. So, we go to Target and Meijer, sure enough it's not busy at all. We had some snow the other day, plus it's been crazy cold so there's ice on the roads still. The new storm that came tonight is sleet/ice/freezing rain so driving is really dangerous and it HURTS to stand outside because it's so cold and windy, feels like being sprayed with glass. Anyway, we are almost home, driving down our street when we both see these plumes of smoke. We both in our heads assumed it was either the wind sheering snow off of roofs, or some wood fires. Then, there's this huge burst of orange flame into the sky and we're both like, "holy *beeps*!" We pulled into our driveway and saw other people walking towards the fire so I ran inside for my boots and camera. By the time we got there, the fireball bursts had stopped, but the firemen were sawing away. They were up on the roof, which is now gone, spraying the water through the frame. There was so much smoke, but judging by the bursts of flame, I don't think there's going to be much left. When the wind picked up, the fireball would start again and embers would come flying out at us. There were about 5 fire engines in the street. It was crazy! We left after a few minutes because the sleet/ice was soaking us and the windchill is unbearable.

I feel so bad for those people, and the firemen having to be out in this ice storm. :(

Walking towards the fire
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/2079112563_462bb39bf5.jpg[/img]

The house burning is a duplex and the fireman is standing next to the garage that sits between the two sides. The other side is the one on fire.
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/2079899866_cdc0788d97.jpg[/img]

I tried to lighten this one a lot. The side to the right of the garage is still there, but the other side is totally engulfed in smoke and flames.
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2301/2079899946_94d49e6436.jpg[/img]

I think we technically live in Kentwood, MI (I honestly don't know because half my utilies are one thing, half are another), but the GRFD has a garage just a mile north of us so both engines were there.
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/2079899998_96d94db618.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2194/2079112945_66c41f3e2d.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2143/2079112997_ccfd1de804.jpg[/img]

Watching from across the street.
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/2079900072_d3e86ce70d.jpg[/img]

The fire is behind the truck on the left side.
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2152/2079112883_e7ba18d970.jpg[/img]

A fireman standing up on what's left of the frame of the roof.
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2341/2079900402_c54da25288.jpg[/img]

UndefinedMelody

Posted : 12/2/2007 12:10:53 AM

Oh no, This is such an awful time of year for this to happen. Do you know if there is any donation type thing that will be going on for the family that lived there?

miranadobe

Posted : 12/2/2007 1:17:15 AM

oh, man, I really hope nobody is hurt - particularly animals if nobody was home. Fires this time of year always make me think of holiday lighting and bad circuits.

MissMandy

Posted : 12/2/2007 11:41:54 AM

Oh wow...that's terrible. Hope everyone was alright.

Cita

Posted : 12/2/2007 12:17:38 PM

Yiiiiikes! Did they figure out what caused it? Is everyone okay?

Liesje

Posted : 12/2/2007 3:25:22 PM

No one got hurt. When we were there last night the man that lived on the other side said it started and they were all at home, so they got out. I *think* I heard him say it was a transformer. I drove by this morning, but didn't linger because the family was there picking through the rubble. There is really nothing left. It's basically a pile of charred ashes and somewhat of the frame of the house. Most of the roof is gone. I was going to take pics for my grandpa b/c he's into that kind of thing, but I'm not taking any pics when the family is there. Sad

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 12/2/2007 5:10:27 PM

Oh! How horrible!!! My heart goes out to the family.

Janet808

Posted : 12/2/2007 6:21:39 PM

That's a shame. I know here in Pgh. that's all you're hearing on the news are house fires, and then to top it all one area is having problems with an arson(sp?). I can't believe you got that much snow already. Wow! I don't look forward to that at all. Where's spring!!!

Maxs Mom

Posted : 12/3/2007 11:17:12 AM

It is so horrible especially near the holidays. Last winter (after Jan but not sure when) there was a big house fire near where I keep my horse. I drove past it as I was going home. To this day the house has had little to no work done. I suspect the family took money and bought a new place. In my neighborhood over the years we have had two. One in Lansing when we had a major power failure, no one was hurt but the family started a fire in their fireplace for heat. Forgot to open the flue and the house filled with smoke. They put the fire out (or so they thought) and left while the smoke disapated (sp?) there was a spark. There house was completely gutted. It was scary! Another time was shortly after we moved to Livonia, our neighbors had a kitchen fire. I remember the owner single older woman, just walking around crying. I went over introduced myself, and let her know if I could do ANYTHING to let me know. I can't imagine what I would do!!! That is my fear, because of the memories (pic etc) you lose. Another story when I was a kid, I went away for a weekend camp (girl scouts or something) the last night I had a dream that my house burned down. The bus drops us off at school and my mom is there to pick me up (as expected) I get in the car and she says "by the way we had a fire at home this weekend". WOW Apparently my brother was smoking in bed. No one was hurt but our basement was toast!