Father, Son Killed In Detroit House Fire
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Detroit fire officials said two men died Monday morning in a house fire on the city's west side.
Family and friends said a man and his stepson were found at around 6 a.m. in a bedroom of a brick ranch near I-96.
The men, ages 67 and 42, were rushed to Detroit Receiving Hospital. Both suffered from smoke inhalation and the younger man also had first and second-degree burns.
Shann Trotter said said neighbors on Fielding Street, near Glendale, did what they could to help, including turning on garden hoses to try and douse the flames -- but the fire was too much.
"My step dad tried to help them get out the fire ... did the best we could do until the fire department came," Trotter said. "But the other fire department is shut from down here, so we really need some people just to try and get that fire department back open. That would be the best thing."
Neighbor, Lawrence Ingrim, said he was a friend of the older victim. "(He) was a very good guy. He didn't bother nobody. You know, he drunk a little liquor but he didn't bother nobody," Ingrim said.
Police talking to WWJ Newsradio 950's Mike Campbell said they're investigating reports that the two men had an argument with a woman earlier. Officers did remove several rifles from the house, but said they didn't think the weapons had anything to do with the incident.
Arson investigators said they do consider the fire suspicious.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)