By Scott Monroe
The Kennebec Journal
DETROIT — Firefighters saved a family’s house from destruction Tuesday night after a blaze tore through an adjacent barn.
No one was injured during the fire, though some rabbits perished in the barn, according to Detroit Fire Chief Don Chute.
The home, at 5 Basford Road, is owned by David Brann Sr. and Lucille Brann, Chute said, and their adult son also lives there.
Just before 7 p.m. Tuesday, David Brann Sr. noticed an orange glow outside the house and saw the entire upper story of the barn engulfed in flames, Chute said. He tried to pull one of two motorcycles from the barn, but was unable to, and they were destroyed along with mowers and other possessions, Chute said.
The family called 911 right away, Chute said, and they “thought they were going to lose the house.” Firefighters made saving the house the “first priority” when they arrived, he said.
“It was a fully involved barn fire when we got there, with flames touching the house; siding was melting,” Chute said. “The heat was breaking house windows. We didn’t worry about the barn — it had already caved in — so we focused our efforts on saving the house, which we did a really good job doing. It was a well-coordinated effort.”
About 50 firefighters responded to the scene, with crews coming from Detroit, Newport, Pittsfield, Burnham and Troy. Detroit fire crews were on scene until nearly 11 p.m.
The cause is believed to be accidental, Chute said, and so the State Fire Marshal’s Office wasn’t contacted.
“It probably started upstairs, and we can’t rule out electrical,” Chute said. “Whether it was mice or some short in there, in the ceiling rafter, I don’t know.”
Chute described the barn as a “total loss,” though he said the Branns have insurance.
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