Two Men Die in Detroit Fire Near Browned Out Station

A 67-year-old man and his stepson, who moved into the home after suffering a stroke, were killed in a house fire Monday morning on Detroit's west side.

Fire crews responded to the 12800 block of Fielding, near I-96 and Evergreen, just after 6 a.m., Detroit Fire spokesman Lt. Gerod Funderburg said.

Firefighters found Bobby Cross, 67, and his stepson Darryl Simms, 42, in the house, friends and family told the Free Press. The men both suffered from smoke inhalation and were rushed to Detroit Receiving Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Cross' family members said a rent dispute may have led to the fire.

Detroit arson investigators, an arson dog and homicide investigators were at the scene Monday. The fire started in the living room, officials said.

No cause has been determined, Funderburg said. Police said no arrests had been made Monday in connection with the fire.

Jacqueline Cross, 48, lives next door to her father. She was at a friend's home when she got a call that her father's home was on fire. She rushed home and arrived just as Bobby Cross was being pulled from the house.

"He was a good person, and he's going to be missed," Jacqueline Cross said.

Bobby Cross -- a father of two and grandfather of five -- had lived in the home for about 25 years. Simms had trouble walking after having a stroke about a year ago and moved in with Cross, relatives said.

A fire engine located just blocks from the home, near Burt and Schoolcraft, was not operating Monday, so another engine from Grand River and Trinity, about 2 miles away, was first on the scene, fire officials said.

The response time was not available Monday because the computer server was down, Funderburg said.

Dan McNamara, president of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association, estimated it would be "at least an additional 2 minutes" away. He said shutting down fire companies because of budgetary reasons compromises the safety of firefighters and residents.

Neighbors tried to help by spraying water on the house with a hose and breaking out a window, Cross' relatives said.

Janet Smith, 59, Cross' girlfriend of two decades, left for work shortly before 5 a.m. She said her son, Cross and Simms were at the house then.

"(Cross) was wonderful to me," Smith said. "He was my everything." She said she hadn't talked to her son after the fire.

Copyright 2012 - Detroit Free Press

McClatchy-Tribune News Service