Boy, 4, hospitalized as blaze forces firefighters to battle it from roof top

by SUSAN YOUNGER
staff reporter

January 26, 2007, Lapeer, MI. A couple lost their home and possessions and their young son was hospitalized for smoke inhalation following a Wednesday evening fire.

About 50 firefighters from four departments battled huge flames amidst burned out floors in an attempt to save the 3,500-square-foot two story home on Shadowtree Lane in Mayfield Township.

"Jason Kriner, the husband, was not home when the fire began, about 5:27 p.m." Lapeer City Fire and Rescue Captain Tom Wittke said. "The mother and two children were at home. The mother was in the bathroom and she heard a popping noise."

Firefighters were dispatched to what began as a garage fire but realized the home was fully involved when they arrived.

"The biggest problem was the first and second floors had already burned through," Wittke said. "It went fast. It was really a safety issue. It was a difficult fire to fight. That's why we needed so much manpower."

Lapeer had full assistance in equipment and manpower from both Arcadia and Attica firefighters and manpower from Elba Fire and Rescue. Firefighters had to navigate a long driveway to reach the home.

"Our tankers had to pull into the driveway and turn around in the yard," Wittke said. "Now, many of the houses are farther off the road, the equipment is bigger, and you don't have that much room."

The recent snow and falling temperatures prompted the department to call the Lapeer County Road Commission to add extra salt to the area.

Ice and snow made the fighting the fire atop the roof difficult. "The roof is slippery, and you have to be more careful," Wittke said. No firefighters were injured trying to save the 10-year-old home. "They did a really good job. It was a tough fire to fight," Wittke said. "They worked their butts off."

It's not yet known how the fire started, but Wittke suspects it began in the basement area.

The couple's younger son, 4, was transported by Lapeer County EMS to Hurley Medical Center with smoke inhalation problems. He was scheduled to be released from the hospital yesterday.2607/loc_20070126002.shtml