Smoke billowed from a two-story home near Burlingame Street and Dexter Avenue on Detroit's west side Thursday morning, visible for miles as fire crews raced to knock down flames that a neighbor spotted before calling 911. The fire was reported under control by 11:45 a.m., though officials have not said whether anyone was inside at the time.
Engine Crews Battled Flames at Dexter-Linwood Intersection
Emergency crews converged on the intersection in Detroit's Dexter-Linwood neighborhood, according to ClickOnDetroit, which reported the blaze. Dispatch records reviewed by LiveUAMap show Detroit Fire Department Engine 40 stretched a hose line to fight the working fire, with Battalion Chiefs 2 and 5 assuming incident command on scene. The block sits within Detroit's District 5, bordering the Nardin Park and Russell Woods areas, according to the City of Detroit.
As of Thursday afternoon, whether anyone was injured remained unknown, and whether the home itself was vacant or occupied also remained unreported. The cause of the fire is under investigation, the station's report notes, and it has urged readers to check back as the story develops.
Vacant Structures Drive Most Detroit Fire Calls
The uncertainty over occupancy matters in a city where vacant buildings dominate fire response statistics. Historical Detroit Fire Department data cited by Wikipedia shows that roughly 85% of fires occurring daily in Detroit take place in vacant homes and abandoned buildings. Nationally, the U.S. Fire Administration estimates about 28,000 fires strike vacant residential buildings each year, with 37% intentionally set and 11% spreading to neighboring properties, per data compiled by Greenfield Advisors.
Detroit firefighters respond to an average of three to nine structure fires per day citywide, operating out of 36 fire stations and handling roughly 30,000 fire suppression calls annually, according to the Detroit Public Safety Foundation. The department's citywide fleet includes 27 frontline engines, 13 ladder trucks, and six tactical squads to cover that volume.
Dexter Corridor Is Already a Target for Revitalization
Thursday's fire landed on a stretch of Dexter Avenue that has been the subject of city streetscape planning. Detroit held a community meeting on the Dexter streetscape, where residents voted on their preferred design, according to the City of Detroit.
The neighborhood has also drawn scrutiny this year over a separate arson case. Wayne County prosecutors charged former Detroit firefighter Eric Anderson in August with a multi-week arson spree targeting five west-side properties, including homes and a garage, Hoodline previously reported.
No details have been released on the extent of damage to the home or whether neighboring structures were exposed. ClickOnDetroit's original report indicated the story was still developing as of Thursday afternoon.
