ALPENA — Firefighters were called to a house fire, where two victims, a man in his 20s and a 2-year-old child, escaped the flames, but received burns.
It happened at 1124 Ford Avenue around 9:13 a.m. Monday. When they arrived, firefighters say they saw heavy smoke and flames visible from several windows. Both victims were taken to MyMichigan Medical Center before being transferred to another hospital for further treatment due to their injuries.
According to a Jan. 19 news release, firefighters initiated a strong response to knock down the fire. They were forced to withdraw because the flames and heavy smoke were intense. A second attack attempt was made from the rear of the building, but extreme heat and worsening conditions made it necessary for all firefighters to evacuate, before taking on a defensive strategy. The fire spread rapidly, helped by strong winds and cold temperatures, extending into the second story of the building. The response team initially consisted of nine on-duty firefighters and the fire chief, who were later joined by seven off-duty firefighters and two auxiliary members. No injuries were reported among the firefighters involved.
All units cleared the scene by 1:57 p.m.