The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Blaze destroys township landmark
Firefighters call for mutual aid from four different areas
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: February 1, 2007
The Ypsilanti Township Fire Department led crews totaling 48 firefighters from four area departments in battling a blaze that destroyed a local landmark.
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Ypsilanti Township Fire Marshal Phil Stachlewitz said the department received the call at 11:08 p.m. from the Great Lakes Skating Center, 2041 Ecorse Road. The call came from the owner of the building, who had been working in his office following a party held at the rink.
Stachlewitz said the owner reported he had looked out into the rink itself, had seen an orange glow in the ceiling area and immediately went to evacuate tenants in the attached residence. He then called the fire department.
Upon arriving, firefighters discovered the fire already had broken through the roof. Within minutes, the building was "100 percent involved," Stachlewitz said.
A call went out for assistance and firefighters from Van Buren Township, the city of Ypsilanti and Pittsfield Township responded. Personnel from Ann Arbor Township, Saline and Augusta Township manned the stations for the responding departments.
The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department assisted, as did the American Red Cross.
Stachlewitz said the building, which was of "old, heavy timber construction" was believed to have been built in the 1940s as part of the Willow Run housing constructed during World War II. It was not equipped with a sprinkler system. The cause of the blaze is listed as "undetermined."
Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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