Detroit Blaze Injuring FFs Ruled Arson

DETROIT --

Detroit fire officials ruled the fire that injured seven firefighters Friday morning as arson. Now the investigation focuses on finding the person or people responsible.

"The fire was incendiary, which means there is the crime of arson here," said Tom Brandon, special agent in charge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

During a news conference Monday afternoon, officials from the ATF and the Detroit Fire Department Arson Squad said the investigation is ongoing and a $15,000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to a conviction in the case.

The ATF said investigators have not identified a suspect in this case. They are interviewing the building’s owners and the owners of the businesses that were housed there.

Arson Squad Chief Eldon Parham said four firefighters remained hospitalized in serious condition.

Eric Jurmo, 31, suffered injuries when a wall collapsed; trapping firefighters in the building located at Jefferson and Dickerson streets in Detroit. He has 11 years with the department.

Firefighter Brendan Milewski, 30, remains in fair condition at Detroit Receiving Hospital. He has 11 years with the department.

Brian Baulch, 31, remains in serious condition at St. John Hospital. He has nine years with the department.

Gerald Rutkowski, 46, remains in serious condition at Royal Oak Beaumont. He has 23 years with the department.

Jeron Whitehorn, 30, was treated at St. John and released. He has eight years with the department.

Shane Raxter, 37, was treated at St. John and released. He has nine years with the department.

Robert Puckett, 50, was treated and released. He is a 23 year veteran.

"They are all alive," said an overwhelmed Bob Baulch, the father of one of the injured firefighters at a Sunday prayer vigil.

A two-story building partially collapsed during Friday's fire.

Detroit Fire Commissioner James Macks says when the building crumbled just after 7 a.m., bricks fell onto the firefighters, resulting in broken bones, including elbows, ribs and pelvises for many of the firefighters.

"When you have large pieces of concrete and large pieces of a brick wall come down on you, these are crushing injuries. Bones are not just broken -- they are crushed," said Steven Kirschner of the Detroit Firefighters Association.

Fire personnel arrived at the scene at 6 a.m. and extinguished the blaze, but it rekindled more than two hours later after they had left, Mack said.

Around 9:30 p.m., Detroit Mayor Dave Bing arrived at Receiving Hospital.

"It's a tough situation to deal with," Bing said. "You don't know the people, but since I've been in this office, they’re part of my family, too."

Bing said he had already met with the families of the injured firefighters.

"Everybody is pulling together," he said.

A large group of firefighters had also gathered outside the hospital.

"It does break our hearts, but our hearts are already broken," one firefighter said outside the hospital. "We're just going to try to be tough and support their families. We have some serious injuries going on here. It's a life-changing day for all of us."

Fire Department often refers to themselves as a brotherhood, but Local 4 has learned about a true brotherly bond on the department.

Lt. Gerald Rutkowski was rescued from the fire by his firefighter brother Tom Rutkowski.

Tom Rutkowski said he was not allowed to talk about the rescue because of Fire Department rules, but former DFD Chief Raymond Hamm said Tom was about to leave the fire when he heard a loud explosion and realized his brother was still battling the blaze.

"The next thing you know he sees these guys buried in the rubble and yanked him out. He seen a bald-headed Gerry and yanked him out," said Hamm.

"He's a good fireman. His brother is a good fireman. They do their job," he added.

The fire at the building near Jefferson Avenue and Dickerson Street was classified as a two-alarm fire. The building is about five miles from downtown Detroit and just west of the suburb of Grosse Pointe Park.

"The job is dangerous. We don't need situations in this city where people are starting fires," Mack said. "People think this is a joke or think it's funny. But we don't need it because people can get hurt. People can get killed."

The building housed a phone business, beauty salon and liquor store. Many nearby residents were evacuated and members of the media were asked to relocate because the chemicals inside of the building were igniting and releasing toxic fumes.

Clouds of dark smoke shrouded the scene mid-morning but dissipated as crews poured water on top of the building.

Witnesses said they heard two loud explosions before seeing the flames.