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Man charged in arson that injured 5 Detroit firefighters

The man was charged with five counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson

By Sarah Rahal
The Detroit News

DETROIT — A 73-year-old man was charged Saturday in connection to an arson that caused a vacant home to collapse, injuring five firefighters, police said.

The man was arrested without incident Thursday night in the area of Central and Vernor for the fire that occurred in the 8100 block of Mullane earlier that day, police said Saturday.

He was charged with five counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson, Detroit Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell said Saturday.

Emergency responders were called at about 1:30 p.m. and were heading inside the building to check for occupants when it collapsed, said Fornell.

One of the firefighters was inside heading toward the back door of the building when the roof collapsed on top of them. The firefighter was pinned down in the debris, Fornell said.

Fornell said Thursday night that the firefighter who was pinned down in the debris suffered third-degree burns. He said another one of the firefighters appears to have a leg fracture. Both were being treated at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

The other three firefighters sent to the hospital have been released and placed off duty, Fornell said.

The fire began at the back of the building and set the home next door ablaze.

The man was arrested by arson unit officials with Detroit Police Department, Detroit Fire Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officials also assisted.

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©2019 The Detroit News

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