On Monday, March 14, 2022 at 4:32 p.m. the Southfield Fire Department responded to multiple calls of a residential fire with possible people entrapped on the 18000 block of Westover Avenue. One resident was rescued from the residential fire and transported to a local hospital for burns and smoke inhalation. Twenty-three fire personnel were on the scene, and the fire was extinguished at 4:45 p.m. The fire is still under investigation at this time. 

Incident Narrative:

Enroute firefighters could see the bloom of smoke from the reported structure fire. Fire personnel arrived on the scene of a single story residential structure with heavy smoke and fire showing from the front and east side windows. On scene family members indicated that their mother was still inside. With the fire conditions worsening by the second, the decision was made by the first arriving crew to perform a priority search without the protection of a hose line.

Two firefighters put on their Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA’s) and made entry through the front door where they encountered zero visibility from the thick smoke that filled the home with high heat conditions. The firefighters searched through the front living room advancing toward the rear of the house where they encountered worsening conditions as they entered the dining room area which was directly across from where the fire was extending from the front bedroom. The firefighters located the trapped resident in her wheelchair just outside of the kitchen where they had heard the victim calling out for help. The firefighters maneuvered the victim’s wheelchair as far as they could through the house at which point they then carried the victim through the front door and out to safety on the front lawn.

“The firefighters prompt response, split second decision making and courageous efforts of performing a search in rapidly deteriorating fire conditions without the protection of a hose line undoubtedly saved the life of this citizen,” commented Fire Chief Johnny L. Menifee.

Incident Overview:

• Qne resident was rescued;
• 87 y/o female patient was transported to local hospital at 4:43p.m. with burns and smoke inhalation;
• Fire was extinguished at 4:45 p.m.;
• 23 fire personnel were on the scene;
• The fire is still under investigation at this time; and
• Fire Personnel left the scene at 7:52 p.m.