Detroit Explosion: A west side Detroit apartment building became the scene of a heroic rescue by firefighters during the early hours of Monday after an explosion occurred. Detroit Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms reported six children alongside six adults needed rescue from their trapped position at a two-story building located on Littlefield Street near Schoolcraft and Schaefer.
Emergency responders received their first call about the fire and potential explosion during the 4 a.m. hour. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they saw residents jumping from their windows to save themselves from the burning building. Simms declared that the team rescued twelve people.
The medical staff rushed twelve injured people to nearby hospitals where they received treatment for their various conditions. The three most severe burn victims came from the same apartment unit where a 30-year-old man suffered 90% body burns and a 27-year-old woman received burns affecting 20% to 40% of her body while a 3-year-old girl suffered burns on 15% of her body according to Simms. The hospital has reported stable conditions for the victims who received minor injuries including cuts and bruises.
Steffen Moore who lives in the building explained the scene of disorder. I thought a car had hit the building yet there was no fire no smoke present. The sound matched that of a bomb explosion without any chemical odor or visible flames but only produced a loud noise.
The firefighters acted rapidly according to Simms who praised their response because it prevented a more devastating outcome. The investigation has not produced enough evidence to confirm an explosion occurred. Everyone inside the building survived according to his assessment yet crews need to enter the stabilized structure to confirm no person remains trapped. The investigators will start their inquiry into the cause of the incident after receiving clearance.
Among the survivors was Ashley Ridner, a young mother who lived in the complex with her boyfriend and their 5-month-old son. “It sounded like a bomb,” she said, echoing others’ accounts. She noted her boyfriend detected a gas smell the previous evening, but she went to sleep before any incident occurred. The couple needed to climb out a window to escape but their boyfriend suffered an arm injury while pulling their baby to safety and Ridner suffered foot injuries.
The upcoming investigation will focus on the bravery of firefighters along with the survival strength of people who faced this frightening incident.