Detroit reports quietest Angels' Night in 20 years

DETROIT – Detroit saw only 11 fires during the second day of Angels' Night patrols, marking the quietest Angels' Night since the campaign began 20 years ago, according to city officials.

The Detroit Fire Department has responded to 28 fires on the first two nights, less than half of last year's 66 fires through two days.

Here are some of the results, reported by the city:

More than 3,500 volunteers have registered for active street patrols this year, officials said. The increasing number of patrollers has helped decrease the number of fires in the city. Fires have greatly decreased over the last 30 years:

Saturday was the final night of patrols for Phyllis Zollins. She's been hitting the streets around Halloween for two decades.

"I think you don't know what you are going to run into out here. You just have to stay alert," Zollins said.

Zollins is one of about 3,500 Angels' Night volunteers who have been working to keep firebugs at bay.

"We call in. We don't stop nobody. We just call in," volunteer Dywayne Neely said. "We just stand there and watch."

Mayor Mike Duggan said arsonists have fewer options now with the demolition work happening in the city.

"When you take out 7,000 targets of opportunity, the arsons go down and we are going to keep on going," Duggan said.

Aishia Phillips has been volunteering for the past 12 years and has seen firsthand the dramatic decline in Halloween shenanigans.

"I just noticed that it's really been nobody on the street like that, but the patrollers. It's not no rift raft," Phillips said.

City officials are encouraging all residents to:

  • Turn on outside lights at their homes from dusk until morning on each day of the Halloween period.
  • Report any suspicious activity they observe to the Detroit Police Department by calling 9-1-1.
  • Place refuse containers or bulk items at the curb before 7 a.m. on the morning of the collection day, rather than the night before, and remove refuse containers immediately after the trash is collected.

Curfews and gasoline purchase restrictions

Public safety officials outlined an emergency curfew that was in effect during the period. The emergency curfew required all minors age 17 and under be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (with identification) from 6 p.m. on Oct. 30 to 6 a.m. on Oct. 31.

A second emergency ordinance prohibits throwing out fuel into portable containers in Detroit from Oct. 27 at midnight through Oct. 31 at 11:59 p.m., except for certain emergency situations for those 18 years of age and older.