Firefighter injured in Portage apartment fire sparked by smoking in bed

A firefighter was hurt while battling an apartment fire in Portage Wednesday evening, according to the Portage Department of Public Safety. Firefighters were called to a fire on Barrington Drive near Garden Lane at about 5:08 p.m., but arrived to find nothing. However, smoke was noted inside the apartment, prompting firefighters to force their way inside, according to the department. A 63-year-old woman was found among the smoke and was removed from the home, but refused medical treatment, firefighters said. The fire was then extinguished and the apartment was vented of the smoke. One firefighter sustained minor injuries during the incident. As of Thursday, the cause of the fire has been determined to be smoking while in bed, firefighters said. Smoke detectors alerted neighbors to the fire, and those neighbors called 911.
WWMT-TV CBS 3 Kalamazoo

Breaking ground in Holt: Delhi Township Fire station is getting a makeover

VIDEO: In a conversation over the summer with Delhi Township Fire Chief Brian Ball, he told me about renovations within the fire department. Changes are now underway. Chief Ball says these renovations will lead to faster response times. Firefighter Corey Drolett spends his days helping people across our neighborhoods. “I have been a full-time firefighter and paramedic here since 2008. We spend a third of our life here.” Here at the Delhi Township Fire Station. But for full-time firefighters like Drolett, there hasn’t always been enough space, as the current building only accommodates four. However, Chief Brian Ball says that with 5-7 firefighters on shift, the need is for space to sleep up to seven. “We are in our current dorm area, which you can see right here is very small,” said Ball.
WSYM-TV FOX 47 Lansing

North Macomb search and rescue dogs earn certification

PHOTOS: Graduation ceremonies for most local students occur in June, but a unique group of northern Macomb students graduated Oct. 1 with certifications that will save lives. The dogs from the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department and Lenox Township Fire Department celebrated their certification as search and rescue dogs with a graduation ceremony on Oct. 1 in Richmond. The dogs have been trained specifically to locate missing persons, such as cases of medical emergencies and lost children or senior citizens. Fire Lt. Nicholas Yelencich is the primary handler for the Richmond Volunteer Fire Department’s dog, named Axe. “Through our bylaws, we did add Axe as a member of the fire department. He was voted in as a member and he is still a member of the fire department through the city,” Yelencich said.
Voice News

VIDEO: Crews battle massive house fire in Detroit’s Palmer Woods neighborhood

PHOTOS: Crews battled a massive house fire in the Palmer Woods Historic District early Wednesday morning. The home near 7 Mile and Woodward in Detroit can be seen with flames shooting out of the roof in the main house on Oct. 9. Local 4 learned the homeowners were living in the guest house while fixing up the main home—they are okay. According to Historic Detroit, the Mirton Briggs House was built in the 1920s as a spec house by Clarence E Day. The first owner was Mirton L. Briggs, Vice President of the Briggs Manufacturing Co., manufacturer of automobile bodies. It was last sold in June 2023 for $950,000. At this time, there is no word on what caused the fire.
WDIV-TV NBC 4 Detroit

Going above and beyond: Firefighters in Saginaw awarded for their quick actions

VIDEOS/PHOTOS: First responders must act fast when an emergency strikes. Decisions have to be made quickly and bravely when battling fires, responding to crashes, and more. It is a hard job, but someone has to do it. Firefighters and citizens that went above and beyond the call of duty in the Saginaw area during emergency situations were honored at the annual Saginaw Fire Department Awards Ceremony on Tuesday. “Our awards ceremony allows us the opportunity to recognize the efforts of citizens, firefighters, and other first responders who have made the City of Saginaw a safer community. It also provides us an opportunity to honor those firefighters who have lost their lives in their service to the City of Saginaw.” Saginaw Fire Chief Brandon Hausbeck said.
WEYI-TV NBC 25 Saginaw

2 Grand Rapids firefighters return from North Carolina Hurricane Helene recovery efforts

VIDEO: Two Grand Rapids firefighters are now home after joining Michigan’s Task Force 1 and traveling to North Carolina to aid with Hurricane Helene rescue efforts. Captains Curtis Walsh and Josh Veldkamp arrived in North Carolina on Sept. 29, in the middle of a storm and immediately started rescue efforts. “We kind of embedded ourselves with the local teams,” Veldkamp said. “We did a couple of different water rescues, water rescues of rescuers that were pinned themselves, and then other individuals that, where one of them was on a car that was washing down the roadway.” During these rescues, both men faced dangerous conditions. Strong winds, downed trees and running water were apparent once they arrived. No one knew how strong this storm was going to be – not even first responders.
WZZM-TV ABC 13 Grand Rapids

Rockford firefighters teach fire safety to kids

VIDEO: Rockford firefighters are teaching preschool and kindergarten classes fire safety and prevention tips during the month of October. City of Rockford Firefighter, Chad Peckham, said since fires spread quickly, it is paramount kids understand their family’s emergency escape plan. "Just to get them acclimated on what to do if there is an emergency so they don’t panic. They know exactly what they’re supposed to do if a fire alarm sounds," explained Peckham. Teaching kids to have more than one escape plan to exit their home can be an important part of understanding fire safety, with getting out being the most important part. "We really have got to drive that home— whether it's toys, animals; it’s replaceable, and your life is the most important," said Peckham.
WXMI-TV FOX 17 Grand Rapids