Detroit firefighter watches his own home burn

DETROIT – Detroit firefighter Donavan Dickerson got the call about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday that his house was burning from top to bottom.

He was suddenly trying to put out a fire right where he lives.

"I helped them put the hose up ... that's all I could do. I didn't have any gear," he said.

It's a house with a rich Detroit history, and it's been in Dickerson's family for decades.

"I knew it was gone, because I have been on a scene like this before. So I know what to expect -- water damage, smoke. All that," he said.

On Wednesday, Detroit firefighters who went through the academy with Dickerson posted a page to sell T-shirts to raise money for Dickerson. A GoFundMe page also was set up for the firefighter.

"Brotherhood. I knew they had my back ... and I also got my family. This is all we got," said Dickerson. "Over 60 years of family house, gone within a matter of seconds. I don't really care about the material things. It's the memories we have in this house."


About the Author:

Local 4 Defender Shawn Ley is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has been with Local 4 News for more than a decade.