FireScenes.Net

Grosse Pointe, Michigan 5-Alarm Fire, March 26, 2018.

The city of Grosse Pointe, Michigan received calls of a fully-involved home on Washington Road around 10:20pm on Monday, March 26th, 2018. The city is protected by a Public Safety Department where personnel are both police officers and firefighters. The first arriving unit reported a fully-involved, 2-story colonial that was under construction with fire through the roof, and immediately called for a 3rd alarm. I am not aware of what exactly that brings, but I can tell you it does not bring what many 3rd alarms do. A minute or so later, a 4th alarm was requested.

Eventually, the City of Detroit was requested as auto-aid but it was too little, too late. The fast moving inferno quickly overpowered the short-handed department. The “D” side exposure was another large, 2-story colonial and the “B” side exposure was a large tudor. Both of these structures were occupied and both would be incinerated in a manner that every homeowner should be aware of. Experienced fire suppression crews are invaluable and this was evident in the loss of the exposures during this incident. The men and women on scene did everything they could, but they just did not have the manpower to keep up. For reference, the first image was taken about 25 minutes in and is the original fire building.

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo

Eric Haak photo