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WOOD Radio Local News

WOOD Radio Local News

 

Grand Rapids Fire investigators look into cause of fire that injured three

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- There is no word yet on what sparked a house fire Thursday afternoon that injured three people in Grand Rapids.

It broke out around 3:30 at the home on Howard Street between Madison and Union avenues. Firefighters arrived to find smoke pouring out of the front of the house, and a woman in a wheelchair was inside. Neighbors rescued her.

Here are more details provided by the Grand Rapids Fire Department in a news released issued late Friday morning:

Date of Alarm: 2023-12-14

Time of Alarm: 15:35:00

First Arrived:    15:38:27

Grand Rapids, Michigan - - Grand Rapids Fire Department responded for a report of a house fire on December 14th, 2023 in the 500 Block of Howard Street S.E.

The Incident Commander reported heavy smoke in this residence upon arrival. An occupant, confined to a wheelchair, was assisted by neighbors to escape the fire in her home. She was located on the sidewalk leading to the main entrance. It was then relayed that there was another person in the rear of the home.

Firefighters moved to the last known location of the resident, to perform a search /rescue and fire attack operations. As a member of the search crew entered into the home, the room flashed over. A flashover is a high heat flame event where nearly every combustible item in the space simultaneously reaches its ignition temperature and burns with intensity that results in a low probability of survival. This flashover injured the firefighter as the high heat burned through his personal protective equipment.

It is extremely fortunate he was able to self exit from the structure without sustaining further injury. The firefighter was transported to a local emergency room with mild to moderate 2nd degree burns. The firefighter was released a few hours later and is now recovering at home from the incident. 

The female occupant was transported to the hospital with a smoke inhalation injury.

The male occupant was located outside of the home with an unspecified injury. He was also transported to the emergency room for evaluation and treatment. Nothing further on condition of either victim.

The fire has been extinguished and a GRFD Fire Investigator is on scene to determine the cause of this fire.

*Initial reports relayed GRFD firefighters had rescued the occupant from inside of the home. It was later determined that the occupant was assisted by her neighbors. GRFD recognizes the miscommunication and wishes to credit the good Samaritans that made a critical situation better by rescuing the victim from this extremely dangerous incident. 

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Grand Rapids firefighters respond to a fire on Howard Street on Dec. 14, 2023.Photo: Photo provided by Grand Rapids Professional Firefighters -Facebook


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