GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Grand Rapids firefighters were busy Tuesday night, fighting two separate fires.
The first one was on Veto Street near Deloney Avenue. That's one block north of Fulton Street and two blocks east of Lane Avenue. It started just before 6 o'clock and was well involved by the time firefighters arrived on the scene.
The city says the fire started in a garage and caused heat damage to an adjacent house and two garages. But it was otherwise contained. Firefighters say a resident of the home was working on his truck inside the garage heated by a propane heater.
"He went inside the home for about five minutes and, upon hearing a 'boom,' ran back outside to a ball of fire. Initially, the resident attempted to extinguish the insulation fire with a pan of water. However, upon checking the attic later, he discovered significant smoke conditions and promptly called 911," the city said in a news release Wednesday morning.
There were no injuries.
The second incident was a house fire that broke out around 9:30 p.m. It was on Kalamazoo Avenue between Prince and Watkins streets on the city's southeast side. For better reference, that is a couple blocks east of Eastern Avenue and south of MLK Jr. Street, formerly known as Franklin Street.
Responding firefighters saw heavy smoke pouring out of the second-floor windows of the 1.5-story home, and from the eaves. They determined that the fire started in an unfinished walk-in attic.
The city says a resident had been using a portable heater to warm the attic space, which inadvertently smoldered a roll of insulation. All occupants of the home, including four adults and two children, exited the structure safely.
The GRFD provided more information in a news release:
Red Cross services were contacted to assist the displaced family.
The GRFD urges residents to exercise caution when using heating devices, particularly in enclosed spaces. Proper ventilation and monitoring are essential to prevent similar incidents.
As always, GRFD reminds you to have working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home. If you live in your own homes, please call 311 or dial (616) 456-3000 to schedule a free home safety assessment and free smoke alarm/carbon monoxide detector installation.
The department remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.
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