85 Buildings Burn in Detroit

[Truck4 48]

In what some are calling a 'perfect storm' of conditions, a wind storm kicked up in Detroit last evening downing tree limbs and power lines. Officials are blaming downed power lines for starting dozens of fires, some involving 15-20 buildings in one shot. The DFD has stated The wave of fires broke out in a 3-4 hour period, between 1600hrs and 2000hrs. Many of the destroyed homes were abandoned. The DFD responded to 140 downed wire calls from 0800hrs to 1700hrs

Detroit brown's out 8-10 fire companies a day after years of downsizing the department. 236 firefighters were on-duty. One union official called the mutual aid response from Warren and other departments the largest since the riots in 1967.

http://www.freep.com/article/20100907/NEWS02/100907050/1318/Downed-power-wires-blamed-in-some-fires

http://www.freep.com/article/20100908/NEWS01/100908019/1318/Bing-to-address-devastating-Detroit-fires

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/local_news/breaking%3A-3-homes-are-on-fire-on-detroit%27s-east-side

Union response:

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/detroit-fire-offical-we-don%27t-have-enough-fire-fighters-20100908-mr

[x635 4,066]

That's crazy! Detroit is a city that depended on the autmotive industry, and failed to prepare for the future. On an average night in Detroit, there's multiple fires from what I understand. I don't how the firefighters there handle it.

[SBVFD524 0]

The press conference with the mayor was a joke totally avoid the issues. The ABC link has the press conference. Shocking noone died.

[Truck4 48]

Looks like the same thing happened in Baltimore City today. (10) rowhouses within two blocks, 8 vacant:

http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php?showtopic=38387

And both departments hit hard by budget cuts, closings and brownouts.