A commercial building in Grand Rapids' Burton Heights neighborhood was engulfed in flames last night leaving the structure severely damaged and a firefighter injured. The blaze reported at 8:26 p.m. at a multiservice hair salon on 2301 S. Division Ave., near Baylis Street SW, required defensive tactics from firefighters as the roof began to collapse under the intensity of the fire, according to MLive.
Upon arrival, Grand Rapids Fire Department (GRFD) crews were quick to engage, but encountered barriers to entry, eventually breaking a window to gain access to the building, as stated by GRFD Battalion Chief Matt Keusch in an interview with WOODTV. Keusch explained, "They actually got drove back out, the ceiling was collapsing," highlighting the imminent danger faced during the firefighting operation.
The effort to contain the fire was considerable, with three aerial trucks deployed to combat the flames from above. Despite these measures, a firefighter sustained an injury, cutting his arm while escaping the deteriorating building and requiring medical treatment. The nature of the fire inflicted "significant damage" to both the building and its contents, with the exact cause still under investigation, Battalion Chief Mark Fankhauser told MLive.
The challenge faced by the firefighters was apparent, as Keusch further described to WZZM13, "We had a lot of fire through the roof, so the roof has caved in," and surmised that the building is "probably going to be a total loss." While no one had reportedly been inside the building during the incident, the flames and smoke were too overwhelming to ascertain the specifics of the internal damage immediately or identify potential ignition sources.
