MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A 76-year-old man is recovering after surviving a Macomb County house fire.
“As soon as our crews hit there, our police officers were first on scene and recognized there was someone still inside the house,” said Chief Craig Miller of the Chesterfield Fire Department.
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First responders rushed to a house on fire on Donner Road shortly after 9 a.m. on Wednesday (Sept. 10).
Inside was a 76-year-old man who was trapped, unconscious, and not responding.
Miller said firefighters made the crucial decision to go inside and get the man out before it was too late.
“Our fire personnel were able to make entry and found him fairly close to the inside door. We were able to get him and immediately remove him outside to turn him over to paramedics for medstar,” Miller said.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but Miller says the smoke detection system may have been outdated.
“A unique thing that you do pick up in the video is a bell ringing. There used to be an old form of smoke alarm that was made with a mechanical bell sound, but not the accurate, more modern smoke detectors that we’re familiar with now. This is a testament to the importance of having good working smoke detectors in your home. Fires move fast, and getting that early and that ability to get out right away is so important,” Miller said.
The good news was that enough people nearby were able to see the smoke and call 911.
“We’re all thinking about him. Hopefully, he’ll pull through and do well,” Miller said.
Miller says this is a good time to check your smoke Detectors and also change the batteries if they’re old.a