Disaster struck Dearborn when a blaze devoured much of the Chatura Hotel early Sunday, as a guest reported an air conditioning unit igniting in their room, per a release from the Detroit News. Firefighters battled the inferno that left seven rooms in ruins and around 35 people without a place to stay, requiring a relocation to the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center for temporary refuge.
According to ClickOnDetroit, the fire was first reported at 1:38 a.m., and after an aggressive confrontation with the violent flames that spread rapidly to the upper stories, 30 firefighters, who descended upon the scene within six minutes, managed to control the blaze by 3:30 a.m. One individual was hospitalized due to smoke inhalation, and there were minor injuries like cuts and burns treated on the spot, yet the fire claimed no lives. The hotel itself has been shut down, deemed unsafe due to rampant smoke and water damage.
“It’s pretty detrimental. You’ve got people that have babies in there, young kids, older people.” to a displaced guest's words captured in a WXYZ interview.
Working in tandem with the Parks and Recreation Department and other services, the Dearborn Fire Department, under Chief Joseph Murray, coordinated an effective response, earning Murray's recognition of his crew's swift action, saying, "They were there within six minutes and aggressively hit that fire and saved a lot of the building and it really prevented a lot of people from getting injured or possibly killed.” as reported by WXYZ. The American Red Cross stepped in, shouldering the responsibility to assist those affected in finding a more permanent shelter, an effort that is to last at lease for 30 days, with the volunteer Micki Levin noting, "We will continue to support them with our recovery workers who helped them find housing and give them referrals and just help them with recovery for 30 days."
