Bloomfield Township House Fires Still Under Investigation

Bloomfield Township fire investigators are still probing the causes of two devastating house fires that occurred close by on the township's east side just a few weeks apart.

The most recent blaze started at about 7 a.m. Sunday at 4525 Wagon Wheel Dr., where firefighters found heavy smoke and fire showing as they arrived, Assistant Chief Lyal Bigger said. Firefighters entered through the front door to search for residents but had to retreat when the floor began to buckle.

Bigger said they made another attempt inside the house for a possible rescue after discovering a vehicle parked in the garage. But those efforts were also stopped after the ceiling began to cave in.

"We had to retreat and only option was to extinguish it from the outside," he said. No firefighters were injured, and all the residents were away at the time and accounted for.

Though firefighters extinguished the blaze before it consumed the exterior of the home, it will likely be determined a total loss due to the severe fire and smoke damage inside.

The cause remains undetermined and is still under investigation, Bigger said.

On March 29, firefighters responded just a few blocks away in the . A third was found dead inside the gutted home. No people were hurt

Bigger said the cause of that blaze is also still undetermined and under investigation by the department.

BHS families, co-workers stepping up

Both families that lived in the home have ties to the and received support from friends and coworkers in the district, officials said.

The Village Lane home belonged to  first grade teacher Stephanie Lazar and her husband, Nick. She and her family were away when the fire started and have been staying with family in the area since.

Staff at both Lone Pine and have helped the Lazars with immediate needs, but no formal fundraisers or drives have been scheduled, said Lone Pine principal Mary Hillberry.

An email alert from the district sent earlier this week indicated that an 8th grader and two 6th graders from Bloomfield Hills Middle School were among the residents of the home on Wagon Wheel.

A gift-card drive to help the family is currently underway. Organizers asked for gift cards to either a specific store or VISA gift cards in any amount to help the family with immediate living expenses. They can be dropped off at the Bloomfield Hills Middle School office at any time.