The Associated Press via The Charleston Gazette
DETROIT — Detroit Mayor Dave Bing defended a stretched fire department Wednesday and its response to what he termed “a natural disaster,” after wind—whipped flames destroyed dozens of occupied and abandoned homes across the city.
Bing said firefighters confronted conditions “that were not manmade” starting Tuesday afternoon. Wind gusts of up to 50 mph forced flames to jump from house to house, eventually encompassing 85 homes and garages — many abandoned — across several neighborhoods.
No injuries were reported.
When pressed on whether the fire department was adequately staffed, Bing sidestepped the question and pointed out that no one was killed.
“A natural disaster — [that’s] what this was,” he said at a news conference. “You just cannot plan for that.”
Alonzo Rush, 62, a retired auto worker, said it took 90 minutes for a fire truck to arrive, by which time several nearby homes were aflame.
“We called. All the neighbors called, but we didn’t get an answer at 911. ... We’re not getting the services we once had and what we’re paying for,” Rush said.
Fire Commissioner James Mack told reporters the city has about 500 firefighters, about 20 fewer than last year. He said the 236 firefighters on duty Tuesday was typical, and that on any given day there are usually 35 fires in the city. Firefighters from a half-dozen neighboring agencies assisted the Detroit fire department. If he could do anything different, Mack said he might have called for help from the suburbs a little sooner.
“We’re maximizing the manpower we have and the equipment we have,” he said. “Yesterday was an unusual day.”
City Council President Charles Pugh earlier downplayed concerns that the struggling city’s fire department was too poorly equipped to respond.
“It was a freakish day — the wind was tremendous,” he said.
“That would have been a difficult day for the fire department if we added $100 million to the fire department budget.”
National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Tilley said the conditions had been perfect for fires to quickly move.
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