A Detroit father and his two teenage sons are trying to rebuild after a house fire destroyed the east-side home where they had lived for nearly 15 years. The family is now staying in a motel, with the start of school adding a hard deadline to an already brutal housing scramble.
Detroit Fire Department guidance says the city’s Fire Investigation Division determines the origin and cause of fires, while its Youth Fire Setter Prevention Program uses education, mentoring and enforcement to address fires set by young people.
A Family Home Was Lost In A Matter Of Minutes
Ronald Antczak had been raising Ronald Jr., 14, and Ryan, 13, alone since their mother died three years ago. The family first rented the home and later Antczak purchased it, according to ClickOnDetroit. The fire began on the front porch during a Thursday evening in late July and quickly spread across the front of the house. When flames blocked the front door, Antczak pulled his older son out through a window.
Detroit Nonprofit Creates Fundraiser As School Nears
Antczak’s family has long participated in Brilliant Detroit, a nonprofit that operates neighborhood hubs and provides support for children and families. The organization created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the family begin recovering from the loss.
Antczak and his sons are living in a motel with assistance from the American Red Cross, but the arrangement is temporary. He told ClickOnDetroit that his immediate priority is finding another stable home and enrolling the boys in school on time. For a family that spent years building a home together, the next chapter now hinges on finding a roof before the school bell rings.
