DETROIT — An elderly Detroit woman reportedly waited 21 minutes for firefighters to arrive to extinguish a fire that had started out as a small blaze in her basement.
The closest available company was 18 miles away, according to Motor City Muckracker.
“The house was totally engulfed when we arrived and it had started with a small fire in the basement,” Firefighter Ted Copley said. “An old lady now has nothing. Epic fail by the city.”
Mayor Dave Bing’s administration has closed 15 stations in the past 18 months and several others are typically closed due to “brown outs” Detroit Firefighters Association Dan McNamara said. Budgets have been cut from $184 million to $160 million.
The Motor City Muckraker reports that it took firefighters more than 8 minutes to arrive at house fire where a disabled man died.
Detroit Fire Commissioner Don Austin said city officials are doing their best to keep the public safe by securing grants, which have helped to keep firefighters from getting laid off.