Safety & Health

Mich. Firefighter's Body Recovered After Strip Mall Fire

May 8, 2013

The body of a Wayne Westland firefighter has been recovered from a blaze at a pair of businesses in a Westland strip mall today.

Source Detroit Free Press

Editor's Note: The Detroit Free Press is reporting the fallen firefighter is Brian Woehlke, 29, who had been a firefighter for 10 months.

May 08--The body of a Wayne Westland firefighter has been recovered from a blaze at a pair of businesses in a Westland strip mall today.

Mayor William Wild said he received notification of the body's recovery at about 12:40 p.m. No information is being released about the firefighter.

Firefighters responded to a blaze at the Electric Stick, a billiards hall, at about 9 a.m. They received a mayday call through the communications system at about 9:30 a.m., indicating a firefighter was in distress. The call was received after a roof collapsed. The strip mall is located at Hunter and Wayne roads.

Wild said he believes it is the first time the city has lost a firefighter.

"We're focusing on the family at this point," he said.

Wayne and Westland merged fire departments in July. The department has 90 firefighters including command staff.

The hall is owed by George Marvaso, who also owns a nearby Italian restaurant.