Firefighter Hurt: 'We're Lucky We Didn't Have Any Fatalities'

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A West Bloomfield firefighter was hospitalized Thursday after inhaling smoke while battling an early morning house fire in the 3800 block of Pinnock Avenue near Green Lake and Commerce Road.

The firefighter, who wasn’t identified, was transported to Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield, then to Detroit Receiving Hospital for special treatment, according to reports from The Oakland Press and WXYZ-TV.

He was reportedly doing well and was “conscious and talking” Thursday, West Bloomfield Fire Marshal Pat Riney told The Oakland Press.

The owner of the home awoke about 1:30 a.m. and discovered a fire in his bedroom. After helping an unidentified person out of the home, he tried to put out the fire with a garden hose before calling 911. When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting through the bedroom window.

The house was heavily damaged in the fire of unknown origin, which is believed to have been accidental. Smoke detectors in the house didn’t activate, Riney said.

“This was a significant fire,” he said, “and we’re very lucky they didn’t have any fatalities.”