UPDATE: A devastating house fire in Detroit has tragically claimed the life of a 6-year-old girl, following a harrowing incident early Sunday morning on December 10, 2023. Emergency crews responded to urgent calls just before 6 a.m. regarding three individuals, a mother and her two young children, trapped inside a burning home on the 12000 block of Rutherford, near Greenfield and I-96.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as flames engulfed the house, now surrounded by ice and police tape. Neighbors reported seeing a 4-year-old boy wandering outside in frigid temperatures of just 5 degrees. “I looked out the window, and I saw him there,” said Marcus, a neighbor who rushed to help. “I didn’t even put on any pants. I just ran out in my shorts and grabbed the baby.”
Despite Marcus’ heroic efforts, when firefighters arrived, they discovered the 6-year-old girl in the living room, suffering from severe burns. “She was screaming and hollering,” Marcus recalled, expressing the desperation of the moment. “She tried to go back in there and get the baby, but it was too much.”
The young girl was transported to Sinai Grace Hospital, but tragically, she did not survive. Detroit Senior Fire Chief Leo Spitzig expressed the profound sadness of the day: “It’s a very difficult morning for the city of Detroit and the Detroit Fire Department.”
The mother and the 4-year-old boy were also taken to Sinai Grace. The mother is reported in serious condition, while the boy suffered smoke inhalation but is expected to recover fully.
Firefighters faced additional challenges as they battled the flames; dispatch audio revealed that one of the nearby fire hydrants was frozen and out of service. Chief Spitzig confirmed, “One of the hydrants on the corner was out of service frozen, but that was not a factor in the fire.” Fortunately, no firefighters were injured during the incident.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Detroit Fire Investigation Division and the Detroit Police Department. As the community mourns the loss of a young life just days before Christmas, Chief Spitzig emphasized the emotional toll of such tragedies: “It’s obviously sad whenever we lose somebody, but when it is a child, it really hits home to all of us.”
As details continue to unfold, residents are reminded of the dangers of fire during the winter months. Authorities are urging everyone to ensure their homes are equipped with functioning smoke detectors and safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
