A Grosse Pointe Park father and his 11-year-old daughter escaped safely after an early-morning fire sent flames through the roof of their home.
The fire broke out Wednesday at a residence in the 1300 block of Wayburn Street, between Vernor Highway and Charlevoix Street near the Detroit border. ClickOnDetroit reported that large flames could be seen coming from the roof around 7:15 a.m.
The homeowner, Pierre Vinson, told Local 4 that he smelled smoke when he went to turn on the lights. When he looked at the electrical panel, he saw flames.
Vinson said he immediately went downstairs to get his daughter out. Both made it out safely, and no injuries were reported.
The Father Said He Went Into Emergency Mode
Vinson told ClickOnDetroit that once he realized the fire was serious, he moved quickly to get his daughter out of the house. He described the moment as pure adrenaline and said he knew he had to act.
CBS Detroit reported that Vinson heard something, smelled smoke, alerted his daughter, and called 911. He told the station he tried to use a fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived, but the fire had already grown too large.
The Fire Did Not Spread to Nearby Homes
WWJ Newsradio reported that firefighters knocked down the fire and kept it from spreading to other homes. Streets in the area were blocked while crews worked.
The same report said the roughly 1,500-square-foot home was considered a total loss and that the family would need another place to stay. WWJ reported that authorities described the fire as electrical, while ClickOnDetroit said no cause information had been released in its update.
Electrical Warning Signs Need Fast Attention
The National Fire Protection Association says frequent tripped breakers, warm or discolored outlets, tingling from appliances, and burning or rubber-like smells from appliances can point to electrical trouble inside a home.
NFPA also advises households to make a fire escape plan with two ways out of each room. When smoke or flames are already inside the house, getting everyone outside and calling 911 comes before trying to save belongings.